Luke Dalli defies PBS ethics code while acting as Labour Party agent

Luke Dalli, one of TVM’s current affairs presenters, has publicly flaunted his dual role as both a state broadcaster representative and a Labour Party official during the recent elections count, raising fresh questions about PBS’s commitment to impartiality and the enforcement of its own code of ethics.

In what appears to be a blatant breach of both PBS guidelines and broadcasting regulations, Dalli proudly shared social media posts showing himself inside the counting hall wearing two hats simultaneously – one as a representative of PBS’s editorial staff and another as a Labour Party delegate.

The situation is particularly striking given that Dalli, while not a journalist by profession, regularly appears as an “impartial” presenter of a current affairs programme on TVM for which he is paid from state coffers and bound by certain rules in his contract. He is also the government-appointed CEO of Arts Malta, a position carrying a salary of around €100,000 annually.

It remains unclear how PBS permitted Dalli to participate in the elections count as part of its editorial team while simultaneously acting as a Labour Party official.

The controversy deepened further after Dalli was photographed celebrating alongside Prime Minister Robert Abela and senior Labour Party officials at the party’s headquarters following the election result. Images posted by Dalli himself show him enthusiastically participating in Labour Party celebrations at the PL headquarters following the party’s latest electoral victory.

The incident is the latest in a growing series of apparent ethical breaches involving individuals connected to PBS, raising concerns that the broadcaster’s code of ethics is no longer being enforced.

Contacted by The Shift, a PBS spokesperson confirmed that the broadcaster’s code of ethics remains in force. However, when asked who was responsible for ensuring compliance and taking disciplinary action against breaches, PBS referred questions to Editorial Board Chairman Englebert Grech, a former Film Commissioner.

The latest episode follows several other controversies involving PBS personnel.

Only a few weeks ago, The Shift reported that PBS board member Jeremy Camilleri addressed a Labour Party political activity, prompting concerns about political neutrality at the highest levels of the state broadcaster’s administration. Camilleri is also a government employee and serves on other government boards, earning additional remuneration.

Meanwhile, current affairs presenter Ricky Caruana has continued to openly promote Labour Party candidates and campaign activities on social media despite clear PBS guidelines prohibiting presenters from publicly associating themselves with political parties or candidates.

PBS’s own ethical rules state that presenters and reporters known to the public through news and current affairs programmes “must be seen to be impartial” and that no off-air activity should create doubts about their objectivity.

The guidelines explicitly prohibit staff from publicly supporting political parties, endorsing candidates or expressing political opinions that could compromise the broadcaster’s neutrality.

Despite these rules, Caruana has repeatedly accompanied Labour Party candidates on the campaign trail, praised ministers and amplified partisan campaign messages, particularly those involving disgraced former prime minister Joseph Muscat and Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar.

Another current affairs presenter, former Labour mayor Quinton Scerri, was recently linked to a company that received a €570,000 direct order despite PBS rules restricting involvement in public procurement.

Yet despite the mounting list of controversies, no public action has been taken by PBS’s Editorial Board, composed of chairman Englebert Grech and veteran journalists Charles Flores and Reno Bugeja.