New political party accuses PBS of discrimination

The president of the new political party Azzjoni Nazzjonali (AN) has filed a judicial protest against the Broadcasting Authority and the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) claiming the party was being discriminated against because its political activities were not being reported by the national station.

Charles Attard filed the protest against both the chairman and the chief executive of the authority and of PBS.

Dr Attard claimed that, like other political parties, AN held political activities that included press conferences. PBS was discriminating against the party as it failed to report activities organised in Birzebbuga on August 10, a meeting in Gozo on September 15 and another in Floriana on September 21.

PBS was discriminating between political parties and was blatantly boycotting AN. Moreover, such actions went against the laws of broadcasting as the national station was not offering a service to citizens of all political beliefs.

The broadcasting watchdog, Dr Attard added, was not doing anything to ensure that each political party was treated in the same manner by the national television station.

Lawyer Anna Mallia signed the protest.