Former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi has lost a libel case against l-Orizzont after the latter called him “a proven liar” in a November 2010 editorial.

The court ruled the editor’s comment was acceptable in a democratic society.

Dr Gonzi was a political person subject to a high level of public scrutiny, Magistrate Francesco Depasquale said.

The comment was not libellous or defamatory, the court said, as it reflected the thoughts of an editor based on the facts he had corroborated.

In another libel suit, Magistrate Depasquale dismissed a claim filed by Paola mayor Dominic Grima against Net TV, ruling that a news item about his membership in a pornographic dating site for gay men was based on proven facts.

The item appeared in a Net TV news bulletin that was broadcast on November 9, 2010.