The Nationalist Party has objected to a decision by Public Broadcasting Services to hold a programme on TVM about Labour’s new deputy leader, Louis Grech, without his PN counterpart present to debate him.

Current affairs programme Dissett is tonight expected to have Mr Grech as its sole guest while PN’s deputy leader Simon Busuttil will be given a recorded slot in which to have his say.

“We are objecting to this decision because it creates an unfair unbalance for the Nationalist Party,” a PN spokesman said in a press statement.

The spokesman recalled that earlier this month Dissett held a programme with only Dr Busuttil present, but this was because Labour’s deputy leader for party affairs, Toni Abela, did not show up.

The PN said it was unacceptable for current affairs programmes like Dissett to be dictated by the PL. Labour was once again running away from a debate with Dr Busuttil, the PN added.

In a reply, PBS head of news Natalino Fenech said a deputy leaders’ debate was scheduled for January 11 on Xarabank.

Dr Busuttil would be invited for a programme on his own at a later stage, Dr Fenech said.

In a statement last night, the PN said it had asked the Broadcasting Authority to treat the matter urgently and decide on the party’s request to have Dr Busuttil live in studio with Mr Grech.

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