The Government is using Public Broadcasting Services to manipulate public debate, according to Nationalist Party general secretary Chris Said.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of today’s PN general council assembly, Dr Said refused to mention individual broadcasts but insisted that a number of protests had already been made.
“This Administration is using PBS for its own means and seems to think that national institutions belong to its internal clique. So much for Malta For All,” he said, referring to the political slogan used by Labour throughout the election campaign.
It seems to think that national institutions belong to its internal clique
The PN last month complained about a PBS report on the public appointment of Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi’s wife.
Dr Said referred to the post-Budget billboards, accusing the Government of using public funds to finance “partisan propaganda”.
He was highlighting the three themes of today’s assembly; Xogħol, Serjetà u Identità (work, seriousness and identity).
The PN, he said, would be making a number of new proposals aimed at long-term job creation.
Over the past eight months, Dr Said charged, the Labour Government had abandoned the values of meritocracy and transparency and embarked on “rampant” abuse of power. In response, the PN had drawn up a list of the Government’s administrative faux pas, including the “political appointment” of Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, several instances of breaches of ethical codes and the “false” declarations of ministerial assets.
To illustrate the call for ‘identity’ the PN was making, Dr Said focused on the cash-for-citizenship scheme, insisting the recently approved law had tarnished the island’s good international reputation.
“Our credibility in international circles has been reduced to an ice cube in the blazing sun,” he said.
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said he would not rule out raising signatures to call an abro-gative referendum.
The PN, Dr Said pledged, would continue to stand against the sale of citizenship but did not comment on what action would be taken.
Asked about former finance minister Tonio Fenech’s appraisal of Henley & Partners, responsible for administering the citizenship scheme, Dr Said insisted the PN had nothing to hide.
“We had contacted the company for advice on the citizenship administration system. We never had any problems with the firm but we do have a problem with sale of citizenship to secret foreign nationals,” he said.