The Green Party yesterday accused the Labour Party media of sidelining it after an invitation to form part of the panel of yesterday’s Inkontri was changed into an invitation for a clip to be shown during the programme.

However, when contacted yesterday, programme presenter Joe Grima insisted the decision was not taken to leave anyone out and was due simply to an issue of space.

“These things happen. This is a live programme and things change up to the last minute,” the presenter said.

Moreover, he had nothing to do with the Labour Party media, he insisted. “I just have my own programme which I do every week and that is all I am responsible for,” he continued.

However, in the statement Alternattiva Demokratika accused Labour of trying to exclude it from its media apparatus.

Following an invitation on May 20 to AD chairman Michael Briguglio to be on the panel of Inkontri, together with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Evarist Bartolo and three speakers from the anti-divorce movement, he was “suddenly” informed of the programme’s change in invitation. This he refused on the grounds of unequal treatment, AD said.

“This follows the fact that yesterday One TV failed to invite any AD representatives on the live debates on the referendum,” it said.

Irrespective of attempts to sideline the party, in the coming months AD will confirm that is was not simply interested in image change according to where the wind blows, AD secretary general Ralph Cassar said.

“AD is, in fact, the only truly progressive party in Malta by putting its weight behind a Yes vote while the PN took an official stance against the introduction of divorce and the Labour sat on the fence.”

AD was proud to have set the ball rolling on the divorce issue, and promised to do the same on other progressive issues, the secretary general said.