This comes after the Broadcasting Authority issued a directive that urges “caution” over reporting about the EP and its president.

The BA says that “any reporting or any information from the European Parliament or any report which has to do with the President of the European Parliament needs to be reported with caution”.

“Any such reports should focus on the news value of the story and whether the issue is a current and topical one.”

The directive applies to radio, TV programmes, and adverts and it is set to initiate between 29th April and 8th June – the day voters will head to the polls to choose their EP representatives and local councillors.

Head of the European Liaison Office in Malta, Mario Sammut, urged the authority to immediately suspend the directive to allow his office to consult with the European Parliament Legal Service and ensure the rights of the institution in Malta were protected, as the directive “could impair the work of the media” in covering the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, the PN slammed the “censoring” of the European Parliament and its President Roberta Metsola as “anti-democratic” and a “disgrace”.

“No country has ever issued an order to censor the heads of European institutions. The BA’s order to avoid reporting on Metsola was issued because she is Maltese,” it said.

The party further urged for the suspension of the directive.

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