All broadcasting stations have been instructed not to broadcast any political adverts unless they form part of the Broadcasting Authority’s schemes.
In a circular issued last Friday to all broadcasting stations, BA Chief Executive Kevin Aquilina wrote that only the adverts falling within a scheme of the authority’s political broadcasts could be aired, such as the party political scheme, EU parliamentary elections, general election scheme and the referendum scheme.
“As you might have noticed, during the last days the authority was called upon to decide two charges concerning political advertisements,” Aquilina wrote. “The authority is interpreting the words ‘political nature’ not only in the strict sense of the word as in partisan politics but also in a wider sense to include public policy.
“Hence all stations are to ensure that no political advertising is broadcast unless permitted by the authority.”