The Broadcasting Authority has refuted independent candidate Arnold Cassola's complaint on the lack of PBS reporting that Iosif Galea had been extradited from Italy to Germany.

By doing so, the Broadcasting Authority is now openly endorsing the PBS policy of only reporting official news released by government sources, authorities or departments, Cassola said.

"With its decision, the Broadcasting Authority is now openly endorsing the PBS policy of only reporting news that 1. is communicated officially by the State Authorities and 2. with the angle or spin given to the story by the government of the day,” he said.

This means that if there is a bomb somewhere and this is not officially communicated by organs of the State, PBS will not report the news; if somebody has been seriously injured or killed in some fight in Paceville or elswhere, PBS will not report unless the Police issue a press release; if a Maltese personality is condemned to jail abroad, PBS will not report unless a statement is issued by state authorities, etc.

Just imagine when this philosophy is applied to issues of political interest: the official government view will be reported , while different non-governmental views will be ignored, he said.

Arnold Cassola concluded: "This absurd decision by the Broadcasting Authority, made up only of PL and PN nominees, is another nail in the coffin of democracy and pluralism in our country".