Panamagate, corruption and the controversy surrounding PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami’s swimming pool took centre stage at Emmy Bezzina’s first live show over the weekend.

The controversial lawyer-turned-TV-presenter, renowned for his colourful outbursts, kept up his characteristic misdemeanour, even upping it a notch, probably because, not being live on television, there was no Broadcasting Authority breathing down his neck.

Recently, he was the subject of a probe by the broadcasting watchdog, which asked for more vigilance in comments and telephone calls on his programme, Il-Parlament tal-Poplu.

Controversy soon surrounded the programme mainly because of Dr Bezzina’s colourful remarks when viewers called in making comments he found annoying.

On one occasion, he went ballistic when a caller criticised him for wearing a tie that did not match the colour of his shirt. On another occasion, Dr Bezzina branded a viewer a “pea brain”, called him an “idiot” and then urged him to “jump off Dingli Cliffs with a noose attached to his neck”.

One caller used vulgar language and the presenter reacted by comparing the caller to “onions marinated in mice droppings”.

First-time offenders should be fined €10,000 and those caught a second time ought to have part of their body amputated

Dr Bezzina – an unsuccessful European Parliament candidate – kept up his insulting tone during the live show at the University’s Sir Temi Zammit Hall.

Attempting to have a dig at him, one member of the audience asked for the bear soft toy wearing a Panama hat Dr Bezzina had next to him on stage. Dr Bezzina called him a “carrot marinated in urine” insisting the soft toy he called Konrad Keith Mizzi Schembri was not up for grabs.

He fielded only a handful of questions from the audience.

He was asked for his opinion on the traffic situation, on the planning authority demerger and on the Church’s decision regarding Borg in-Nadur where a man claimed to have Marian apparitions.

On traffic, Dr Bezzina said he strongly disagreed with the €100 fine for the use of mobile phones while driving. He said he believed first-time offenders should be fined €10,000 and those caught a second time ought to have part of their body amputated.

Asked about the common belief on the group he had set up for battered men he said that was a falsity that had stuck with him throughout the years.

He praised the newly-elected University rector, Alfred Vella, for being upfront in stating that, while he would collaborate with government, he would not be a “yes-man”, adding that the country needed more such people.

He urged his audience to back him in his proposal to set up a “political force” to oust the present 69 members of Parliament, whom he described as “rats”, from the “cheese grater”, claiming that corruption had “taken over” both political parties.

Asked about illegal migration, Dr Bezzina said he was convinced “Malta will be run by these people in 50 years’ time”, hesitating to clarify that this was “not a racist comment”.

As he had promised in the run-up to the event, the 90-minute sell-out show was a celebration of free speech but some phrases and language Dr Bezzina used throughout the show are not publishable.

He said efforts would be made to hold a free show next time round.

matthew.xuereb@timesofmalta.com