The anti-divorce movement believes the Broadcasting Authority discriminated against it when four of the six media organisations chosen to question its representative during a televised conference had taken a public pro-divorce stand.

In an immediate reaction, the broadcasting watchdog refuted the claim, saying the chosen media were balanced. In a letter to CEO Pierre Cassar, movement chairman Andrè Camilleri accused the authority of discriminating against it in its choice of journalists. He claimed that two thirds of the media organisations chosen to put questions to Moviment Żwieg Bla Divorzju representatives had a public position in favour of divorce.

He said that for the Yes movement’s press conference, only two of six media organisations had taken a public stand against the introduction of divorce.

Mr Cassar replied the regulator had always acted impartially and in the most transparent manner as required by law. He said the authority could not be subject to any pressure by any movement and that the scheduled conferences would go ahead as planned.