The Broadcasting Authority will next Tuesday hear submissions by Alternattiva Demokratika on three protests it submitted - against PBS, ONE and NET, AD chairman Michael Briguglio said this morning.

Addressing a news conference in Marsascala, Dr Briguglio said the current situation has to change.

“A Broadcasting Authority ruling earlier this week made it clear that in leaders and deputy leaders debates, all political parties should be treated equally. This follows an earlier Broadcasting Authority ruling which states that all political parties should be invited by TVM, Net and One during the electoral campaign.

“AD expects that these rulings are fully adhered to, and we have asked Broadcasting Authority to investigate accordingly.

Deputy chairman Arnold Cassola said AD was presenting several proposals for constitutional reforms which should benefit participatory democracy and further pluralism in the country.

“Apart from our proposed reform of the electoral system, which adds a 2.5% national threshold to the present system, and a law regulating political party financing, we are proposing, amongst other things, that Members of Parliament are to serve on a full time basis.”

AD's manifesto also proposes that the President of the Republic is elected by the 68 mayors of Malta together with the 65 MPs, that members of the Judiciary and of important national commissions or boards are nominated by the President with approval by parliament and that the right of citizens to clean air and water is entrenched in the Maltese constitution.