Legal action may delay Eurosong

Legal action over whether the Eurosong contest should be open to non-Maltese songwriters may cause next year's show to be postponed slightly although the organisers are adamant everything is "on track".

Grace Borg, former board chairman of Maltasong (as it was then called), has filed a judicial protest against the Public Broadcasting Services, this year's organising committee, for discriminating against foreign composers and songwriters.

Citing European law, she said it was unfair to exclude so many people from the contest, especially when networking with foreign composers could benefit local singers.

PBS chairman Clare Thake Vassallo countered that such laws could have exceptions, such as when a country chose a national football team.

"The same principle should apply here," she said.

In 2005, the Union of Maltese Composers and Authors had threatened to boycott the contest if foreign composers were allowed to participate.

A compromise was later struck thanks to a reciprocity clause through which only foreign composers who allowed Maltese participants in their contests could participate.

Not satisfied with this, Ms Borg had eventually resigned. Yet, despite years of similar disputes, the issue has again surfaced just a few months before the selection process was meant to begin. "The days of monopolies have long come to an end," Ms Borg said, complaining that some "closed-minded" authors did not want to face competition.

Dr Thake Vassallo said rules were negotiated every year and the position could change in the future.

She did not deny the timing of the Eurosong contest may be delayed by the court proceedings but said "the bigger picture" would not be affected because the actual Eurovision Song Contest in Finland would be held in May.

Asked whether the court case could result in the winning act having less time to prepare for the final competition, Ms Borg responded by asking: "Did we ever prepare? The results obtained in the last four years indicate otherwise".

cperegin@timesofmalta.com