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Five days to go for general elections
By MaltaMedia News
Mar 3, 2008 - 10:48:23 PM
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A confrontation between Nationalist Member of Parliament Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Opposition Leader and Leader of the Malta Labour Party Dr Alfred Sant at the PBS studios dominated the news on the fifth day before general elections.
Dr Sant was meant to meet six journalists to record a press conference scheduled for airing on Tuesday evening. Dr Pullicino Orlando appeared at the studios as a representative of Media.link Communications. Dr Pullicino Orlando was asked to leave by officials of the Broadcasting Authority on the grounds that it is the practice that contesting candidates are not present at such conferences so as no one gets added exposure.
Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that it was his right to be present and insistently asked Dr Sant why he was scared to face him and why he was tarnishing his reputation just days before general elections. Dr Sant simply stood there quietly until he decided to leave. Immediately after leaving PBS studios, Dr Sant appeared on One television stating that the incident was merely an attempt at provocation by the Nationalist party.
The Institute of Maltese Journalists published a statement saying that the incident made a parody out of the journalistic profession and that the Department of Information should have never issued a press card to a contesting candidate.
Later in the evening, on a visit to Kalkara, Dr Sant circulated a receipt showing that Dr Pullicino Orlando had been informed by registered letter from Mepa that an application for development on his land had been submitted.
In a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that a vote for the Nationalist Party would translate into more work, better work and more opportunities for young people. He said the Labour party is not saying how work will be created because the Labour campaign is built solely on mud-slinging and allegations.
On Monday evening, during the television programme Bondiplus, when asked about the possibility of a coalition government, Dr Gonzi said that “God-forbid that Malta would ever need a coalition government” as it would be a reflection of a crisis in the country. Alternattiva Demokratika’s Chairperson, Dr Harry Vassallo, retorted by asking the prime minister whether all the European States, which in their absolute majority have a coalition government, are in crisis.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Gonzi wrote to Joe Falzon, the MEPA auditor, urging him to investigate the application for development at Mistra.
Dr Sant’s interview on Television Malta has been rescheduled to be broadcast on Tuesday evening after the news.
For more details, including pictures and videos of the electoral campaign, see MaltaMedia's special feature on the 2008 Malta General Elections.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Mar 5, 2008 - 2:57:38 PM CET
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