The Nationalist Party said it received an offer for an advertising campaign worth €10,000, which it refused since these spots represented blatant government propaganda about the budget. But in a counterstatement late this evening, the Office of the Prime Minister said the claims were tantamount to censorship.

These spots have already been flagged by the Broadcasting Authority when the government tried to broadcast them on Public Broadcasting Services earlier this week, the PN said.

“The Prime Minister even wants to buy the Nationalist Party. This confirms the political philosophy of Joseph Muscat, which is that money is everything and with money he believes he can buy everything and everyone. You cannot buy the Nationalist Party,” said leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil.

The fact that these advertising spots have already been stopped by the authorities, said the PN, and the fact that the government is still trying to broadcast them on private stations, shows the sheer arrogance of the government. 

Replying the the Opposition leader, who gave comments in Brussels, the PM said the PN's decision was equal to "preventing the people from being able to see the government's message".

The OPM said that Dr Busuttil's censorship showed that he was afraid from people enjoying the measures announced in the budget. The OPM also referred to the BA and said that it had only flagged one out many spots that had been booked.