Momentum calls out PBS over budget debate exclusion

Momentum has formally written to the Public Broadcasting Services and the Broadcasting Authority to protest the exclusion of the party from televised debates concerning the 2027 Budget.

In a letter sent to the broadcasting regulators, Momentum highlighted how state and mainstream media continue to silence alternative political voices to protect the traditional duopoly. The party pointed to the TVM programme Popolin broadcast on 28 October as a clear example. The panel featured three Members of Parliament from the Government and three from the Opposition, while the studio audience was packed with candidates from both the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party.

Momentum argues that public broadcasting has a fundamental duty to ensure political pluralism. A representative from the party could have easily been accommodated on the panel or within the audience to offer an alternative perspective on the nation’s economy. Instead, the same exclusionary practices were repeated across several other discussion programmes during the budget period, including Vi jew Va, Wara l-Ħdax ma’ Ricky, Xtra, and Bla Rispetti; Il-Fatti.

Momentum General Secretary Mark Camilleri Gambin, who signed the letter to the authorities, stated: “Public broadcasting is funded by the taxes of all Maltese citizens, yet it continues to operate as a closed shop for the two major parties. Good governance and transparency demand that national discussions, especially those concerning our economy and the budget, reflect the true diversity of our society. By locking out third-party voices, the state broadcaster is failing in its democratic duty to provide a balanced and inclusive debate.”

The party is urging the Broadcasting Authority to intervene and find an immediate solution that guarantees Momentum the opportunity to participate in national political debates. Building a better Malta requires opening the floor to all legitimate political forces, rather than recycling the same two narratives.

The full letter is reproduced below.

Għeżież,

Nixtiequ nesprimu d-dispjaċir tagħna dwar il-fatt li Momentum ma ġiex mistieden jipparteċipa f’ebda dibattitu televiżiv dwar il-Baġit 2027.

Bħala eżempju, fil-programm Popolin fuq TVM (28 ta’ Ottubru 2026), ġew mistiedna tlett Membri Parlamentari mill-Gvern u tlieta mill-Oppożizzjoni, filwaqt li l-udjenza kienet mimlija b’kandidati mill-Partit Laburista u mill-Partit Nazzjonalista. Inħossu li dan ma jirriflettix b’mod adegwat il-varjetà tal-fehmiet politiċi preżenti fis-soċjetà Maltija.

Aħna nemmnu li kien ikun possibbli li rapreżentant minn Momentum jiġi mistieden biex jipparteċipa fl-udjenza, u li rappreżentant tal-partit jingħata wkoll l-opportunità li jieħu sehem fil-panel, minflok wieħed mis-sitt parteċipanti li kienu diġà rrappreżentati miż-żewġ partiti ewlenin.

Programmi oħra fejn kien hemm diskussjonijiet dwar il-Baġit fil-jiem ta’ qabel jew ta’ wara jum il-Baġit kienu Vi jew Va, Wara l-Ħdax ma’ Ricky, Xtra u Bla Rispetti; Il-Fatti, fost oħrajn.

Nemmnu li x-xandir pubbliku għandu rwol importanti biex jiżgura li l-programmi politiċi tiegħu jirriflettu kemm jista’ jkun il-pluraliżmu politiku u jagħtu vuċi lil perspettivi differenti, fl-interess ta’ dibattitu demokratiku aktar inklużiv u bbilanċjat.

Għaldaqstant, nitolbukom ġentilment tikkunsidraw din il-kwistjoni u ssibu soluzzjoni sabiex Momentum jingħata l-opportunità li jipparteċipa f’dibattiti politiċi, b’mod partikolari dawk relatati ma’ kwistjonijiet nazzjonali ta’ importanza bħall-baġit.

Nirringrazzjakom tal-attenzjoni tagħkom u nibqgħu nittamaw li jkun hemm opportunità għal djalogu kostruttiv dwar dan is-suġġett.

Tislijiet,

Mark Camilleri Gambin,

General Secretary, Momentum

There is hope, you can help!

Join Momentum and build a better Malta. Volunteer, donate, or subscribe today!