The Nationalist Party said that a PBS directive to producers who are to submit topics and guests for current affairs programmes two weeks before they are to be aired goes against free journalism and is anti-democratic.

An email sent by PBS chairman Mark Sammut to producers ordered them to submit the topics and names of guests to head of news Norma Saliba for approval.

In a statement this morning, PN deputy leader David Agius said that this directive confirms what the party has been saying for months – that the national station has been hijacked by the Labour Party.

The PN has requested the Broadcasting Authority to intervene to stop this law-breaking exercise, one which is preventing the public from discussing the most important current affairs themes.

The chairman’s email also confirms the impartiality that exists in the station’s programmes. The party referred to past press conferences in which statistics were given on the difference between the amount of time and space given to Labour when compared to what the PN is afforded. All this goes against Malta’s Constitution, but the BA is not taking any action unless the PN files a complaint.

The PN said that the directive should be withdrawn immediately because its only scope is to see that there is absolute control on all current affairs programmes, which also means that journalists and presenters have lost their freedom.

Some €5.5 million are spent on PBS every year and these public funds should be put to better use to ensure impartiality, Agius said. This directive shows that the conclusions reached by the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia are still being ignored.

The PN said it is also concerned on the way the programme Niskata is being produced. This programme is a showcase for Labour Party candidates such as Ray Abela and Joe Etienne Abela, the PN said.