No eyebrows raised at Broadcasting Authority over far-right’s ad

The Broadcasting Authority appears to have green-lit an inflammatory political message by the far-right Imperium Europa, which complainants who called in at MaltaToday’s newsroom said was dominated by racist remarks and non-factual conclusions.

The spot, broadcast on Tuesday evening after the 8pm news bulletin, alleges that ‘African’ migrants had introduced numerous diseases in Malta – in a reference to asylum seekers crossing from North Africa.

It also alleges that migrants to Malta had led to an escalation of criminality, one of Imperium Europe’s central planks in the forthcoming European elections.

The spot is accompanied by sensational file photos of unidentified skin diseases, together with an amateur video of a black person involved in a fight in Paceville – a place where entertainment and hot-headedness goes hand-in-hand.

Contacted by this newspaper, the Broadcasting Authority’s head of communications Mario Axiak said normal practice was followed as requested by law.

Asked whether this meant that the BA had approved the spot for broadcasting, Axiaq stopped short from confirming. “I cannot confirm whether it was approved or not. What I can confirm is that the clip was sent to the Broadcasting Authority and this was seen.”

He underlined that although the spots were checked, it was up to the police to take the necessary steps if the message aired was slanderous or racist.