Malta’s two major political parties have hogged grandstand positions in this year’s political debates, as a Broadcasting Authority schedule has accommodated them with a final debate between Lawrence Gonzi and Joseph Muscat.
A final debate between the leaders of Labour, the Nationalist party, Alternattiva Demokratika and Azzjoni Nazzjonali, organised by the Broadcasting Authority, was recently changed and restricted to just Joseph Muscat and Lawrence Gonzi.
The BA fixed a scheme of debates with a final debate between all four leaders, but then amended the 2 June debate to include just Muscat and Gonzi.
Elsewhere, reports that PN officials are avoiding confrontation with third party candidates reached this newsroom – last week on Wednesday, the PN did not turn up for a debate on Family TV, leading to its cancellation; while last Thursday Alan Deidun did not turn up for a recording of a debate led by Nidal Binni.
MaltaToday is also informed that Favourite Channel is organising two debates – one between AD chairperson Arnold Cassola and AN leader Josie Muscat, and another aired just before the elections between Gonzi and Muscat.
Likewise, Xarabank’s grand debate will only feature Gonzi and Muscat behind the podium on the main stage, while other candidates will be seated on a panel.
Political broadcasts on TVM started this Monday and will go on until Wednesday, 3 June.
There will be five one-hour debates after the 8 o’clock news every Monday, each with a different subject for the debate determined by Azzjoni Nazzjonali, Alternattiva Demoktarika, Partit Laburista and the Nationalist Party.
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