Referring to the leader in The Malta Independent of last Wednesday (Just a tickle), Mr Iwueke echoed the argument made by this newspaper’s editor, saying that independent candidates were being ostracised.

The press conference, attended only by the independent newspapers – including reporters from the The Malta Independent (Sunday and daily) – proved his point, said Mr Iwueke, adding that he had sent an invitation to all the media, including that of the MLP and PN.

He accused the political parties’ media of suppressing pluralism. This section of the media was ultimately funded by the people through donations and was failing in its duties towards free speech when it censored his campaign and that of other independent candidates.

“My experience of this election”, he said, “is that political parties manipulate the information they feed to people. This is a good example of how political party candidates, if elected, will go to the European Parliament and become the mouthpiece of their parties.”

Although he was optimistic about his chances at the elections, he said that the point of his campaign was not about winning or losing, but rather to make a statement and bring the issues of minority groups to everyone’s attention.

He urged voters to consider the parties’ manipulative attitude, saying that people should do away with the “party mentality” and register their anger by voting for him. “The European Parliament is a people’s parliament, meant for ordinary individuals who are qualified and capable of representing their countries in Brussels and Strasbourg, not for old party machinery.” Mr Iwueke announced that he will be lodging a protest through his legal advisor Dr Leslie Cuschieri, with the Broadcasting Authority and the Malta Press Club and will also take the matter to the European Commission.