Independent MEP candidate Arnold Cassola said that the way the Broadcasting Authority had scheduled programmes related to the EP and local council elections is insulting to serious independent candidates.

In an interview with this media house, Cassola said that he wants to debate serious issues with the big political parties on TV, and yet he is being prevented from doing so.

The Labour Party and Nationalist Party will have five debates between them, while Sandra Gauci (ADPD), Norman Lowell (Imperium Europa), Matthias Iannis Portelli (Volt) and Ivan Grech Mintoff (ABBA) will be given one debate each with the PN and PL.

Independent candidates were excluded from debating with the political parties and were only offered the opportunity to engage in a debate with fellow independents. They were also only granted a five-minute slot for independent speaking, and a 45-minute debate among other independents.

Cassola was asked about his exclusion from the "big leagues”, and being forced to debate with some independent candidates who are seemingly not taking the elections and politics seriously.

"It was an enormous insult to me. I have the same issues that the PL and the PN are discussing, and I want to debate with the two parties," Cassola said, adding that the ordeal was intentionally planned.

"It is in their interest to put you in a ghetto, image-wise, so that you are presented as a stupid, clown politician," Cassola said, adding that this is more prevalent in these elections.

"This is state-sponsored discrimination," Cassola said, even describing how “maliciously” the system was created, as all candidates are contesting for the same seats.

He said that the whole scope of the election is for the public to be able to compare candidates, yet the way the schedule has been set up is preventing all candidates, whether independent or party-affiliated, to appear together.

Cassola said he has managed to beat this through his presence on social media, which he uses to discuss on many subjects through the year, with a decent following from the public.

He said he refused the given opportunity of five minutes speaking time for independent candidates to convey their message alone, saying that he resorts to Facebook to voice his thoughts whenever he wants, and has acknowledged the public's support.

Alternatively, Cassola said he was offered the opportunity of a 10-minute interview with a journalist, and a three-minute spot, a change from the original plan, despite not being the most ideal.

Cassola said that he now knows the political game, and has even helped other independent candidate with the "tricks and the games they play."

The main part of the interview was carried yesterday