PN Leadership Race: Delia and Borg Limited to Party TV Debates

Though they are not allowed to conduct interviews for other news outlets during the campaign, Nationalistic Party leadership candidates Adrian Delia and Alex Borg will square off in two televised debates on NET TV.

With the official start of the leadership competition this week, the PN’s electoral commission decided under new rules. Both candidates’ paperwork must be formally submitted by noon tomorrow.Although the precise form of the NET TV debates has not been made public, the regulations specify that Delia, Borg, and their representatives will be banned from independent media appearances for interviews until the campaign ends.

Originally allowed to give interviews, the two candidates were not allowed to argue with each other. The Institute of Maltese Journalists criticized this restriction, claiming the PN was stifling openness in a subject of public concern.

With eligible card-carrying party members casting their ballots, the leadership vote will be held on 6 September. Since 2013, it is the Nationalist Party’s fourth leadership election.Bernard Grech’s departure earlier this summer started the race.