The Union of Maltese Composers and Authors (UKAM) is surprised with the “take or leave it attitude” of the state broadcaster’s CEO Anton Attard, who threatened to pull out of the Eurovision if it degenerated into a circus.

Reacting to an item in last week’s The Sunday Times, UKAM president Horace Anastasi said the union was taken aback that details of the new regulations, which PBS requested be kept private, had been divulged.

Mr Anastasi said he was also astonished with the tone of the comments, especially in view of the “friendly and civilised discussions” between the union and PBS in recent weeks.

Mr Attard had recently faced resistance over the festival’s new regulations. Singers had complained about the participation fee while the union was against the clause allowing foreigners to compete.

UKAM had not ruled out boycotting the contest last month but felt this should be a last resort.

Mr Attard said the national television station was willing to pull out of organising the festival. “These matters will damage Malta’s participation from the outset and we don’t want this to be a farce. This is not about unions, legal matters or boycotts. This is about PBS selecting one song,” he had said.

Mr Anastasi said it appeared Mr Attard was willing to make changes to the new regulations. “The situation seemed far from the circus mentioned, at least from the impression PBS gave UKAM and its members during various meetings held,” he said.

In fact, Mr Attard is willing to change the new regulations and these are expected to be announced this weekend.

Among them, the participation fee which had increased to €250 from €100 to raise the prize money will be reduced to €150.

Mr Anastasi said he hoped the closing dates would be extended once the fresh regulations were announced.