Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1477424
NEWS 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 AUGUST 2022 MATTHEW VELLA F Living Channel incurred a Broadcasting Authority fine after a presenter 'replaced' the seats for Nationalist MPs invit- ed to his chat-show with their photographs, in a sign of de- fiance at the party's refusal to have them participate. Presenter Simon Debono, a conservative right-wing pun- dit and real estate owner who presents 'Propjetà Minn Wara l-Kwinti', featured the photos of Nationalist MPs Alex Borg and Ivan Bartolo on several ep- isodes after the PN refused to grant them permission to fea- ture on his chat-show. Debono said the photos would replace their seats "after they were prohibited by the PN from coming here and speak about why they voted on the issue of freezing embryos after conception." The images of Borg, a pop- ular Gozo MP elected for the first time in 2022, and of Mosta MP Ivan Bartolo, featured con- stantly on the episodes of 13, 14, 18, 19 and 21 July. The BA said Debono's stunt had been a breach of the BA's rules on standards and prac- tice for current affairs pro- grammes. The clause cited was that when proposed interviewees are unable or unwilling to ac- cept an invitation to partici- pate in a programme, refer- ence to their absence "should be referred in as detached and factual a manner as possible and the presenter should as far as practicable make known the absent interviewee's or his or her organisation's views on the subject under discussion, where known." Debono's property show reg- ularly features conservative voices debating political issues, with Debono recently attend- ing an event hosted by former Nationalist MP Edwin Vassal- lo following the legalisation of preimplantation genetic test- ing during IVF. Earlier this week, Debono led a delegation of "pro life" activ- ists to meet President George Vella, which included Nation- alist candidate Hermann Far- rugia and Jean-Karl Soler, a doctor embraced by Malta's anti-vax community. F Living pundit 'makes his point' and BA fines him Simon Debono (left), featured photos of Nationalist MPs Alex Borg (centre) and Ivan Bartolo (right) on several episodes