The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) has categorically condemned the Labour Party’s decision to include journalist Manuel Delia in its latest election campaign billboard.

The billboard, which reads ‘Bernard il-wicc tal-Passat’ (Bernard the face of the past), places Bernard Grech seemingly isolated in front of the PN’s HQ, with the faces of PN figures such as Beppe Fenech Adami, Joseph Ellis, Karol Aquilina, and Jason Azzopardi behind him. 

Manuel Delia, who had an internal role within Austin Gatt’s ministry when the PN were last in government a decade ago and has since become a blogger and journalist, is one of the faces on the billboard.

IGM noted how Delia is being targeted alongside a number of PN MPs and officials despite not having any involvement with the party for years.

“The IGM is therefore concerned that, once again, a journalist is being singled out because of his work, as had happened with Daphne Caruana Galizia before she was assassinated,” the institute said.

“The IGM believes political parties should refrain completely from this style of campaigning, especially in light of the 2017 Caruana Galizia murder, and instead focus their energy on ensuring that journalists are better protected”, it continued.

IGM also called on the Labour Party to immediately remove the billboard.

 

Last time a journalist was put on a billboard she was killed - PN

Reacting, the PN said Abela had learnt nothing from the past. The last time a journalist’s face was put on a Labour billboard it was Daphne Caruana Galizia, and she was murdered.

It described Abela’s behaviour as “obscene”, saying he should not target journalists whose work bothers him. The Daphne public inquiry had clearly said that the government’s attitude towards the journalist had facilitated and let do her murder. The board had held the government responsible.

PN Leader Bernard Grech has insisted on the immediate removal of the billboard.