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TVM Dropped Maltese MP’s Show After She Entered Politics. 7 Years Later She Has Won Her Case

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Claudette Buttigieg was a well-known TV presenter and has previously hosted shows on all of Malta’s main TV stations, namely TVM, ONE and NET. However, her career was abruptly cut short in 2012 when she decided to run for politics with the Nationalist Party, a move TVM said ran counter to its requirements of impartiality and balance.

Now a Court of Appeal has definitively ruled, seven years later, that her dismissal was unjust and illegal.

Back in 2012, Buttigieg entered into an agreement with DeeMedia.tv Ltd to host the magazine programme ‘Sellili’ from October 2012 till June 2013.

On 17th September 2012, she announced she was contesting the general election with the PN, and the following day PBS informed her by email that her post had been terminated.

Last year, the Administrative Review Tribunal ruled that PBS’ decision was without any basis, taken beyond its legal power, and was also contrary to the law, but the national broadcaster appealed this decision.

Buttigieg argued before the Court that such a decision was solely taken on the fact of making her candidature public, and thus had no basis at law. She further argued that her TV programmes were known for steering away from political items and current affairs, and that her termination took place when the date for the 2013 general election had not even been set.

She contended that her media profession was her sole income and that such a decision came with major financial repercussions for her.

Today, the Court of Appeal, presided by Judge Anthony Ellul, quoted previous case law to conclude that PBS could not dismiss someone based on the mere fact of having that same person expressing her intentions of contesting the general elections, and that this did not amount to a sufficient basis.

“After seven years, I feel satisfied with the outcome,” Buttigieg said. “My lawyers will now be looking into the matter of damages and compensation.”

Buttigieg was represented by lawyers Tanya Sciberras Camilleri and Reuben Balzan.

READ NEXT: WATCH: Parliament Belt Out A Powerful And Painfully Off-Key Rendition Of Claudette Pace’s ‘Desire’

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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