Pierre Portelli denies internal party rift

The former president of the PN's administrative council has denied an internal rift was at the heart of his resignation from the post.

Speaking to newspaper Illum, Pierre Portelli said his resignation was due to his professional career and because he was moving into a sector he felt "more comfortable in".

“The truth is that I find media more comfortable than politics because it is my own field of work,” he said.

Reports in GWU-owned l-orizzont asked whether Portelli had vacated his seat because he was uncomfortable holding such a position within the PN.

Illum also confronted Portelli with a rumour that up to several months prior to his resignation, various individuals within the PN’s structures had questioned how Portelli was being awarded shows on NET TV through Watermelon Producions, the media company he owns, while still a PN official.

But Portelli would only insist that “the commercial aspect has nothing to do with politics."

“During my time as Administrative President, I never received remuneration from the station. I always supported my TV productions through the advertising I used to bring in,” he said.

He added that “I would have done the same if I was doing a programme on ONE TV, as I do not feel I should be complicit in financially draining party-owned stations.”

Asked if he had to pay for air time on NET TV like every other company, Portelli said that he was not aware of what agreements the station had with others.