Labour leader Joseph Muscat explained today that he disagreed with the nomination of Anthony J Tabone as chairman of Broadcasting Authority, because as a previous chairman of PBS he had actually taken the Authority to court during a dispute at the time of the EU membership referendum.

Speaking this morning, Dr Muscat observed that Mr Tabone would be chairman of the Broadcasting Authority at a time when Malta would have a referendum on divorce in May, followed by local council elections in a year's time, and then the general election.

The chairman of the Broadcasting Authority had to be totally impartial, and seen to be so. Yet in the run-up to the EU referendum, Mr Tabone had been chairman of state broadcaster PBS and had refused a request for the PL to have a number of TV spots, despite a decision by the Broadcasting Authority. He had even taken the Broadcasting Authority to court over the issue.

"How can one have confidence in Mr Tabone when he took such a dogmatic decision in such a delicate time?" Dr Muscat asked.

He hoped that Mr Tabone would eventually manage to earn the PL's confidence.

SOLIDARITY WITH JAPAN

In his comments, in reply to questions by listeners on One Radio, Dr Muscat expressed solidarity with Japan following Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

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