Labour leader Alfred Sant this afternoon walked out of the recording of a press conference at Television Malta after Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando turned up among the journalists and stayed put even when Broadcasting Authority officials said he had no right to be there.

The press conference, which was due to have been broadcast this evening, was organised by the Broadcasting Authority and was about to be recorded at the PBS studios.

Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was representing the PN media and wanted to ask a question about the allegations made against him by Dr Sant on Saturday.

But before the recording started Dr Sant objected to Dr Pullicino Orlando’s presence and asked for his removal.

The chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Joe Scicluna, told Dr Pullicino Orlando that in terms of BA rules, he had no right to be among the journalists because he was an election candidate.

When Dr Pullicino Orlando stayed put, Dr Sant said he was walking out in protest.

Dr Sant shortly after made a statement on One TV saying Dr Pullicino Orlando's presence constituted provocation from the PN which the MLP would not fall for.

PN general secretary Joe Saliba said there had been previous occasions when candidates were able to ask questions at press conferences.

Media.link, the PN news company, said Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was one of its accredited journalists. It broadcast footage which it said showed that the BA chief executive had initially accepted to have Pullicino Orlando at the press conference but the authority changed its decision after a hurried meeting at the PBS offices.

The footage showing Dr Sant entering the studio, where Dr Pullicino Orlando was already sitting at his desk. When Dr Sant objected to his presence Dr Pullicino Orlando repeatedly called out to Dr Sant asking him why he was scared of him, why he was denying him this opportunity to ask him questions and why he was not allowing him to defend himself. Dr Pullicino Orlando said he had nothing to be ashamed of and he asked Dr Sant why he had been running away from him and why he had sought to harm his image four days before the elections.

He also showed his press card and said this was a restriction of freedom of expression.

Dr Sant did not reply and later left the studio.