The Broadcasting Authority has dismissed a complaint by the Nationalist Party that the controversial New Year broadcast by the Prime Minister was a form of political advert which was prohibited unless part of a Broadcasting Authority schedule.

In its decision this evening, the authority said that since it was dismissing the complaint the party’s request for a remedy was being denied.

In its decision, the BA said that the format and style of production did not fall within its responsibility so it could not pronounce itself on this aspect of the message.

It said it also understood that public broadcasting had the duty to broadcast such messages by the Prime Minister of the day. It was acknowledged that in his New Year message to the nation, the Prime Minister would look back on his government’s work during the year and look ahead to the new one.

This was also the style of New Year message by leaders of other European countries.

The authority said it felt that, in this case, the matter dealt with in the message had been amply debated and all the different ideas were well known by all.

BA NOT GUARANTEEING IMPARTIALITY - PN

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party reserved its rights at law and expressed disappointment that the authority failed to see that the message was a programme of political controversy.

In doing so, it was failing its duties to guarantee impartiality according to the constitution, the party said.

The authority, the PN said, also failed to consider that the programme was an act from beginning to end.

SIMON BUSUTTIL'S NEGATIVITY 'WITHOUT LIMITS' - PL

In a reply, the Labour Party said the PN this evening opted to attack a constitutional and independent authority simply because it dismissed its complaint.

It was clear that the Nationalist Party attacked those who did not agree with it.

Moreover it was selecting which authority to praise and which to attack according to what suited it best.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil’s negativity was without limits, the PL said.