TV show postponed as BA insists on Busuttil
Last night’s edition of current affairs programme Dissett was postponed by a week after the Broadcasting Authority decided that Nationalist deputy leader Simon Busuttil should also take part in the programme with his new Labour counterpart Louis Grech.
On Friday, the Nationalist Party objected to PBS’s decision to hold the programme with Mr Grech as the sole guest. Dr Busuttil was meant to have been given a recorded slot to have his say.
Yesterday, the BA met to consider the Nationalist Party’s objection, and after listening to the PN’s and PBS’s arguments, while taking into consideration the communication it received from the Labour Party, it recommended the inclusion of Dr Busuttil in the programme.
Both the PN and the PL appeared to agree on the matter, but because of the change in format and participants the programme had to be postponed, it said in a statement.
In a letter sent to the BA just before the meeting, Labour said that when it received the invitation for Mr Grech, the party had suggested including Dr Busuttil in the programme.
However, to “avoid any controversy”, the PL concluded that the programme should be postponed to enable Dr Busuttil to take part.
The chosen date should respect the agreement reached between both parties, which stipulated that the election campaign should wait until after the New Year’s celebrations.
In its reaction, the PN accused the PL of avoiding confrontation with Dr Busuttil and using the Christmas festivities as an excuse.
It added that the Labour Party had not objected to the programme as long as Mr Grech was being interviewed on his own.
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14 Comments
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Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 30th 2012, 22:05
Is-sur Grech jidher wahdu "live" fuq programm televisiv kien ikun ukoll propaganda politika fi zmien il-Milied imma dan ma kienx jghatik fastidju sakemm kien ikun ta' vantagg politiku favur il PL biss. X'wicc tost!
Charles Massa
Dec 30th 2012, 19:57
U tal PN qalu dan l inkwiet kollhu wara li habbru li fi zmien il festi tal Milied mhux se jaghmlu propaganda politika, Mur afdhom ghal hames snin ohra
John Zammit
Dec 30th 2012, 15:27
Why all this nonsense in first asking for a silent period now up in arms to find something to argue about. Have we not a 2 months period were is going to be held, and why is PBS now asking that the program be held on Xarabank First. Had the lost faith in one of there best Journalist
P Buħaġiar
Dec 30th 2012, 11:50
The same story. How can you trust PN for another 5 year term,, when not even an simple agreement, to avoid political affair during feastive season till 7 Jan, are not able to hold?
Mr J Xerri
Dec 30th 2012, 10:39
After all it seems that this is not the end of the story as PBS is now mulling about the idea of scrapping the Dissett confrontation in favour of having Busuttil confronting Grech on Xarabank thus postponing the debate to a later date.
Mr. M. Camilleri
Dec 30th 2012, 10:20
'In its reaction, the PN accused the PL of avoiding confrontation with Dr Busuttil and using the Christmas festivities as an excuse''
Dawn bis-serjeta' jew??!!!!! Arroganza bil-pedigree!
jm busuttil
Dec 30th 2012, 12:12
So a one man show is not political and can be done in the Christmas festivities whils an two man show does.
Inti bis-serjeta' jew??!!!!! Arroganza bil-pedigree! il-kumment tieghek.
Deo Catania
Dec 30th 2012, 12:58
jm busuttil, parlajt minghajr ma lanqas biss fhimt xi qrajt, erga aqra l-artiklu forsi tifhem.
Mr. M. Camilleri
Dec 30th 2012, 13:42
Sur Busuttil,
Aqra sew l-artiklu . . . il-PBS stiednet lis-sur Grech!!!! Mhux il-PL stieden ru]u b'idejh!! . . u Simon beda jibki għax ried jidher ukoll wara li nqafel fl-akkwarju!!!
Suppost silenzju politiku . . . il-PM fetaħ kastilja għan-nies biex jagħti l-awguri tal-Milied . . . ħalluna . . . bħall-messaġġ politiku li għamel fl-awguri tal-Milied!
jm busuttil
Dec 30th 2012, 23:16
Mr M. Camilleri
Sorry I still pity you.
victor caruana
Dec 30th 2012, 09:45
What happened to the leader, the great GonziPN.
Where are you Scooby doo?
paul camilleri
Dec 30th 2012, 09:54
what has Dr Gonzi got to do with this program? you should ask yourself why the LP did not invite Dr Busitill for a rematch against the new LP deputy leader and only sought to mention it only AFTER the PN and BA made an objection .i am sure that should Dr Muscat offer a confrontation with Dr Gonzi, the latter would gladly appear while with the LP members one cannot be to sure who will turn up!
Neil Dent
Dec 30th 2012, 10:59
Dr. Gonzi is a sound and extremely capable debater, who has seen off both the current and previous MLP leaders every single time he has faced them - without fail. You will be treated to further displays of his vast superiority in the coming weeks don't you worry Mr. Caruana.
Deputies debate with deputies, and leaders with leaders - that's how it goes!
Darren Attard Bonnici
Dec 30th 2012, 12:07
Since when the elections are about the Deputy Leaders? ... truth is that GONZI's credibility is now at a shameful 0. The PN tried to turn all the Electoral's attention on Simon Busutil ... the same guy that for the last 5 years did nothing as an MEP and kept on crying and shouting about burden sharing ...
PL cam up with a counter attack and now PN is puzzled! ....
Please choose the reason of your report below: