Undecided BA fines Andrew Azzopardi for saying he ‘will never invite’ Norman Lowell

In October 2023, Andrew Azzopardi interviewed BA CEO Joanna Spiteri in his programme at the church radio station RTK.

Azzopardi questioned whether any political candidates with problematic views should be legally entitled to appearances in broadcast media.

Using far-rightist Norman Lowell as example, he asked whether “they have the right to be given space on our stations just because they are candidates”.

Andrew Azzopardi also made it clear that Lowell, leader of the right-wing Imperium Europa, would never be invited to his programme.

The broadcasting authority actually fined stations for giving space to the racist, Nazi-apologist, and promoter of racial supremacy:

In 2010, the Broadcasting Authority fined PBS €1,164 for inviting Lowell, “a person who is known for the fomenting of racial hatred and for their offensive opinions”.

In 2013, an appeals court confirmed a magistrates’ court judgement finding Lowell guilty of three charges of inciting racial hatred.

In 2019, the Broadcasting Authority fined TV channel FLiving €1,160 after Lowell appeared there as European Parliament candidate.

However, BA CEO Joanna Spiteri argued last October that one cannot exclude individuals based on “particular politics”.

After Imperium Europa filed a complaint against Azzopardi, Spiteri herself testified during the hearing before the BA board.

She agreed that Azzopardi’s comments had breached the law, and even claimed they were “threatening towards the authority”.

The BA board decided that Azzopardi’s comments “were out of place and went beyond a simple opinion, but constituted a declaration”.

It upheld Imperium Europa’s complaint against Azzopardi’s programme and imposed a total fine of €6,410 which includes a suspended fine from 2022.

This latest decision raises the question of whether broadcasters will now be fined either way: for inviting Norman Lowell – and for not inviting the racist.