With the Broadcasting Authority saga, Joseph Muscat is following in the steps of his hero. Dom Mintoff had refused to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court, leaving it unable to function, thus making sure no one could take his government before that court.

It suits Muscat that the broadcasting regulator remains as it is, a constitutional authority in a comatose state. In a short four-year period, he managed to emasculate most of the constitutional authorities set up by previous governments.

The regulator’s main task is to ensure a level playing field with regard to programmes aired by the State broadcaster, PBS. And since PBS has been taken over by ex-Super One (the Labour TV station) employees, it suits Muscat to have the regulator unable to carry out its responsibilities.

Muscat’s government will not only be remembered for corruption but also for having been the administration that undermined the constitutional authorities set up to protect the people’s right from being trampled upon by the government.