“The station of the party that Silvio worked and lived for broadcast teleshopping in this national moment of sadness, where people of different political stripes united to give a final farewell to this true gentleman with Labour beliefs who helped the vulnerable regardless of who they were. In times like these, I feel ashamed to call myself a Labourite.”

“Having to turn to a private TV station to watch the live funeral mass of a person who gave his life to the party truly hurts,” another woman wrote.

“Thank you ONE for broadcasting the final farewell to this humble gentleman for the sake of those who couldn’t attend,” a man wrote sarcastically, before clarifying that he was reserving his thanks to F Living.

As Parnis was being laid to rest, viewers who tuned in to ONE TV were treated with a teleshopping programme. During that episode, items such as gas heaters, ladders and ironing boards were being sold at discounted prices.

Parnis died this week at the age of 57 following a battle with cancer and was laid to rest following a ceremony at the Kristu Re Basilica in Paola.

Although the funeral wasn’t broadcast live on ONE TV, the PL media house’s website did provide a live link to it from Parnis’ Facebook page.

Parnis spent 24 years as a PL MP but didn’t contest the election earlier last year. In 2020, he announced he was stepping down from politics after he was left out of Prime Minister Robert Abela’s Cabinet.

Following his death, the PL agreed with a proposal by Abela to nominate Parnis for a Republic Day state honour in recognition of his grassroots work over the years.

Do you think ONE should have broadcast Parnis’ funeral live?