The IĠM (Institute of Maltese Journalists) said Saturday it disagrees with the rules issued by the Nationalist Party Electoral Commission that regulate the relationship between the media and journalists, and the prospective candidates in the party leadership election.

While the IĠM understands the need for such a contest to have its own rules, it can never agree with rules that hinder the work of journalists or even attempt to muzzle the type of questions that may be asked.

This is not a contest that only concerns PN members, but a choice that is of public interest because the eventual leader will become the Leader of the Opposition and a prospective Prime Minister, the institute said.

Journalists - including those employed by the media of the main political parties - have a duty to ask prospective candidates the necessary questions so that the public can better understand Adrian Delia and Alex Borg: what they believe in, what direction they intend to take the PN, what their relationships are with businesspeople, with each other, and with other actors in civil society.

This is necessary for a democratic society to ensure that the choice is an informed one, the statement said.

Therefore, the IĠM objected to the condition that journalists interviewing the two candidates may not make reference to the other candidate. The IĠM also objected to the fact that newsrooms may be excluded from conducting interviews if they do not comply with these rules.

The IĠM objected to access being restricted for independent journalists and others once the actual race begins, as interventions will only take place through PN media.

The IĠM objected to any interference in how journalists do their job.

The IĠM called on the PN to reverse course on these rules and instead create a framework that encourages debate and the free exchange of ideas by making it easier for journalists to carry out their work.