The Opposition is objecting to the appointment of George Mifsud as Chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, “due to the conflict of interest regarding Mr Mifsud, and his position as chairman of his company."

George Mifsud has been appointed as the new Chairman, following the resignation of the previous chairperson - Tanya Borg Cardona - who resigned in the wake of industrial action ordered by the UHM Voice of the Workers because of her "bullying tactics".

According to a government press statement, "George Mifsud has vast experience in the communications sector. He setup the marketing company MPS -- Marketing and Communications in 1975, and in 2011 became non-executive Chairman of the same company."

"Between 2007 - 2013, he was plenipotentiary ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria, and served on the board of directors of the Gozo Channel between 1999 and 2004."

The PN, in response to this announcement, said that Mr Mifsud has direct commercial interests with the national station, adding that he can never be in a position to regulate a company that he has a commercial relationship with.

“As the PN Leader said in a letter sent to the Prme Minister, a person cannot do business with PBS in the morning, and judge compaints against PBS impartially in the afternoon. This is a conflict of interest, a larger one than what led to the lack of impartiality and to the resignation of Tanya Borg Cardona," the PN said.

“During the consultation process, Dr Busuttil nominated two persons for the position, who are individuals who have no conflict of interest. These were the former Chairman of the Authority – also confirmed by this government – Anthony Tabone, and the former Ombudsman Judge Joe Said Pullicino.”

“Regardless, the Prime Minister remained hard-headed and appointed the person he wanted, regardless of this person’s conflict of interest.”

The PN argued that the Prime Minister lost another chance to appoint a person to a constitutional post through agreement. “No wonder the Prime Minister brought the authorities to serve him instead of the people, as he has done with the police, the armed forces, the Electoral Commission etc.”

“Today more than ever, we need a new style of politics, where persons appointed to important positions in the country are chosen through agreement, with a two-thirds majority in Parliament.”

Government response

Government, through a statement, said that the PN’s objections to the appointment are baseless. 

“The PN leader chose to make public the names they proposed during the consultation period. During the process, the Prime Minister showed flexibility, however the PN Leader kept objecting. First of all, Mr Mifsud does not have an executive role in his private company. Secondly, the PN also proposed a person who serves on the PBS Board, Chris Scicluna, who also worked in this sector directly, and in executive roles.”

“Thirdly, Anthony Tabone served on the board as a Chairman in 2011, and was kept on in this administration. Mr Tabone, who worked in this position in the most respectable way, also had a role in a company that had commercial relations as a client of PBS.”

"The PN’s objections show double standards."