Norman Vella Calls Out Prime Minister For ‘Selective Solidarity’ With Journalists
Former TVM journalist Norman Vella has called out Prime Minister Robert Abela for “selective solidarity” with journalists.
Vella started off by praising Abela for expressing his solidarity with the ONE journalists who were threatened and harassed outside court this week, stating that “there is no room for such behaviour in a democratic and civilised country”.
He also said he disagrees with people who criticised the Prime Minister for “using the occasion as a photo-op” when he published a photo of himself hugging one of the journalists, Ruslana Barbara.
“He was right to publish those photos because it clearly showed on which side he stands,” he said.
However, Vella went on to note that Abela had absolutely no reaction when a court ruled last year that his removal from TVM in 2013, shortly after PL was elected to government, was an act of political discrimination.
“The Employment Commission, the majority of whose members were appointed by the PN, said that what happened to me is not justifiable in a democratic country,” Vella pointed out.
“It saddens me to note that in the nine months since that judgement, the Prime Minister hasn’t yet found a minute to express his solidarity with me or displeasure at what happened, or to attempt to fix what was broken.”
“Even worse, I note how the Prime Minister acted with regards to those who wee found guilty of this vendetta against me. He kept one of them, [former civil services head] Mario Cutajar in his government roles, and described the other one, [former Prime Minister] Joseph Muscat, as his lover.”
“Out of respect to the personal relationship I used to have with the Prime Minister years ago, I remind him that selective solidarity is also a form of discrimination.”
“I also remind him that he is the Prime Minister of every Maltese person, journalist and worker, and not just ONE employees and PL supporters.”
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