Mario Axiaq for the Broadcasting Authority was factual, but not enough, in his assertions (BA Rejects Potential Political Monologues, November 26).

The Constitution of Malta stipulates that the Broadcasting Authority shall "ensure that, so far as possible, in such sound and television broadcasting services as may be provided in Malta, due impartiality is preserved in respect of matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to current public policy and that broadcasting facilities and time are fairly apportioned between persons belonging to different political parties".

What stuck in Azzjoni Nazzjonali's throat was the BA's definition of "balance" (equals "due impartiality"?), that lovely word that the Authority loves to bandy about. In this case "balance" means that, after meeting the stiff bill that the buying of airtime on a private station which is not received nationally entails, Azzjoni Nazzjonali is expected to invite its political rivals to take part in its programmes - for free. When none of the other three contending parties has ever invited Azzjoni Nazzjonali to take part in anything they organise, and were not constrained by the BA to do so, the new party is expected to play host, at its expense, to political rivals, two of whom are very well served by inhouse stations which seem to enjoy the BA's "Nelson Eye".

Not content with this imposition, the BA accuses Azzjoni Nazzjonali of wanting a political monologue of its own. But of course, dear Authority. The political monologue enjoyed by the MLPN on NET and One TV can only be balanced by a rival political monologue. That would be a true balance. But then, the BA has been so careful all these years ensuring "balance", though not in the sense intended by Article 119 of the Constitution, that perhaps, just perhaps, they have lost their sense of the true vertical.