Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1520947
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 MAY 2024 NEWS The articles hereunder form part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' views. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action. Labour beats PN to manifesto: The Labour Party launched its manifesto for the European Parliament last week, lay- ing out its 10-point guiding plan for its work in Brussels. Want a summary of the manifesto in under 70 words? Let's go: The party is promising to prioritise Maltese interests at EU level while up- holding Malta's neutrality and promot- ing peace. Apart from this, the party promises to address Malta's unique challenges in the EU's single market, advocate for reduced bureaucracy, and support climate change reforms tai- lored to Mediterranean island states. All this while promoting fair asylum policies, connectivity, decarbonisation, and EU fund access, while emphasising subsidiarity and proportionality in EU integration. The prodigal son returns to ONE: Jo- seph Muscat returned to party media for the first time in years as he sat down for a radio interview with Emanuel Cuschieri on Wednesday. It was here that he revealed that an Indian national is the whistleblower upon whom Mus- cat's corruption allegations have been based. This was his first appearance on ONE since resigning as Labour leader in 2020. It was only after being subject to a police raid in 2022 that Muscat started to make appearances on Smash TV and F Living to give interviews. Protestors in Valletta: A large crowd of protestors took to Republic Street in Valletta to protest recent events surrounding the Vitals inquiry. People waved Maltese flags in the air and got a little creative in their attire – one duo was spotted wearing black t-shirts with a cartoon pig on the front, while cov- ering their faces with Rosianne Cutajar and Edward Scicluna masks. The pro- test was in part a show of force after the Prime Minister's comments against the judiciary and journalists, but also a cel- ebration on Repubblika's side. After all, it was upon their request that a Vitals inquiry happened in the first place. Sleeping beauties: Independent can- didate Arnold Cassola posted a photo on his Facebook page on Friday of what appeared to be Minister Anton Refa- lo sleeping in his car aboard the Gozo Channel – something which is now for- bidden. "A just Malta. Everyone's equal. And... happy dreams," Cassola wrote. But he was quick to be corrected. Turns out, Daphne Caruana Galizia had post- ed that photo on her blog in November 2016. But as soon as Cassola realised, he published a screenshot of the blog post and apologised. "So, sorry Daphne, for having posted a photo you had actu- ally revealed... without crediting you." Muscat back on one, protestors back on the street Protestors took to Republic Street in Valletta to protest recent events surrounding the Vitals inquiry NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt Of manifestos launched and protests organised - here's your week three round-up of the campaign trail IN 2011, 13 years ago, MediaToday Co. Ltd, the publisher of MaltaToday and Il- lum, had taken the commercial decision to pass on the title of the newspaper Illum to the company Innovate Business Con- sulting represented by Jonathan Cardo- na and Louis Cardona for an 18-month period. MediaToday retained the opera- tions and the editorial functions of Illum. MediaToday wanted Illum not to re- main a financial burden and for Innovate Business Consulting to invest in the title. After this agreement, Innovate Busi- ness Consulting appears to have made another agreement, independent of Me- diaToday, with other companies, includ- ing a company in the printing sector and a company that imports paper and print- ing machines. One of these companies belonged to Keith Schembri, who had a 25% share in this agreement made by Innovate Busi- ness Consulting. This happened 13 years ago in 2011 when none of these compa- nies or individuals involved remotely had a political posting or connection with one party or another. This commercial arrangement ended because of disagreement between the in- vestors and MediaToday and the news- paper title passed back to MediaToday. At no point in 2011 or afterwards was there any payment or transaction be- tween the parties. Years later, in 2021, there was also an attempt by the owners of Steward Health Care, through their chief executive Armin Ernst, to buy out MediaToday Co. Ltd. MediaToday chose not to sell. It has to be noted that over the past years and from the start of the Vitals and Steward saga, the editorial position adopted by the newspapers belonging to MediaTo- day have been very critical of the govern- ment deal with Vitals and Steward. Last year, Steward sued MediaToday for libel in the Spanish court in Madrid over reports that appeared in MaltaTo- day and asked for thousands of euros in damages. This case is ongoing. Illum newspaper is 100% owned by MediaToday; Steward had wanted to buy the company Following reports on social media that appear to be based on leaks from the Vitals inquiry, MediaToday has issued the following statement: