A former Labour Party mayor has lost a libel suit against former PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami over the publication of an ‘Official Sticker Album’.

Mario Salerno, former Kirkop and St Paul’s Bay mayor on the Labour Party ticket, had featured among the 200 or so individuals listed in the ‘Malta Tagħna Lkoll- Official Sticker Album’, published by the PN in the run up to the 2014 MEP election.

The publication had been launched during a press conference on May 21 in St George’s Square, by Dr Fenech Adami who had made reference to those “benefiting under this government” through “phenomenal salaries” and “luxurious perks.”

Under the category of “Candidates, ex-Candidates and ex-Deputies…” the album included the applicant’s image, captioned as “Mario Salerno ex-mayor Kirkop and ex-mayor St Paul’s Bay and chairman of the competent authority of organic farming in Malta.”

The former mayor had instituted libel proceedings against the PN and Dr Fenech Adami Leader claiming that both the published album and the presentation at the press conference were defamatory in his regards.

The respondents countered that the speech given by Dr Fenech Adami amounted to ‘fair comment’.

The court, presided over by magistrate Francesco Depasquale, observed that all that had been declared about Mr Salerno and the roles he had occupied were based on facts which were “substantially correct”.

As for the comments made by Dr Fenech Adami at the press conference, the Court observed that these were “political comments” delivered in the midst of an electoral campaign wherein the PN was criticising their opponents for failing to honour their 2013 Electoral promise of “Malta Tagħna Lkoll.”

It was clearly proved that neither Dr Fenech Adami nor his party had ever indicated Mr Salerno as one who benefited from “phenomenal salaries” and “luxurious perks” as alleged.

All comments directed against him, “as a person involved in politics” were based on true and correct facts which were supported by evidence, the court concluded, thereby turning down Mr Salerno’s application with costs.