Updated 6.15pm - Added TVM statement
A PBS decision to stop Claudette Buttigieg from hosting her popular TV show Sellili in 2012 was unfounded and illegal, a tribunal found today.
Ms Buttigieg, who is now a Nationalist Party MP and deputy speaker, was told she had to go off-air two weeks after she declared her intention to run as a PN candidate in the 2013 general elections.
The former TV personality had declared her intention to run on September 17, 2012. The very next day, she was informed that the PBS editorial board had sent an email to deemedia.tv, who were responsible for airing her matinee programme, telling them that Ms Buttigieg would not be allowed to host the show as of October 1.
Ms Buttigieg's contract with deemedia.tv ran for that entire season, up to June 2013.
She subsequently took PBS, its editorial board and deemedia.tv ltd to court, seeking compensation for damages suffered as a result of the decision.
During proceedings it was pointed out that Sellili had nothing to do with politics or current affairs, that Ms Buttigieg had been informed of the decision without being given a chance to air her views and that the cancellation caused her great financial stress as it was her only source of income at the time.
The tribunal hearing also found that just days after that decision, the Broadcasting Authority had changed its rules to allow prospective electoral candidates such as Ms Buttigieg to carry on with their shows.
Despite this, the PBS Board had not informed Ms Buttigieg she could go back on air.
In view of all this the administrative review tribunal, presided over by magistrate Charmaine Galea together with David Fabri and Antoine Naudi, concluded that the decision by PBS had been unfounded, abusive and illegal.
However, no liquidation of damages could be effected since this matter fell within the powers of the ordinary courts of law.
In a statement issued by TVM, the public broadcaster said that it would be appealing the decision, saying it believed it ran counter to PBS' constitutional requirements of impartiality and balance.