Speaker raps PL paper for misquoting Opposition MP

Speaker Anglu Farrugia called on Labour newspaper Kullhadd to retract quotations falsely attributed to Opposition MP Marthese Portelli in its next edition.

Portelli had called on the Speaker to take action, after Kullhadd falsely claimed on Sunday that she had criticised the appointment of Ruben Abela as CEO of the new Environment and Resources Authority.

The article alleged dispute within the PN parliamentary group after Opposition MPs Claudette Buttigieg and Charlo Bonnici had praised Abela on Facebook, while Portelli had "said in Parliament that qualified people were overlooked for the new position".

“Portelli also said that Abela’s experience in planning and heritage weren’t relevant to this role,” the article read.

However, Portelli refuted this as a blatant misquotation, noting that she had delivered her speech before environment minister Jose Herrera had even announced Abela’s appointment.

Indeed, while Portelli had warned of political discrimination within ERA - with experienced people overlooked for promotions - she never mentioned anyone by name or position.

In his ruling, Farrugia noted that Portelli had never mentioned Abela in her speech and called on Kullhadd to print a retraction in its next edition.