Media houses have been barred from attending Bernard Grech’s swearing-in ceremony as Opposition leader this afternoon.

A spokesperson for the President’s Office confirmed with Lovin Malta that only TVM and NET will be allowed inside San Anton Palace due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.

All other media houses will be restricted to a press pool in the garden to take Grech’s comments and can only use official photos of the actual swearing-in ceremony. Lovin Malta will not be attending as a sign of protest against discrimination between media houses.

Although the President’s Office has cited COVID-19 for this restriction, several press conferences have taken place in recent weeks. Only yesterday, Grech and Prime Minister Robert Abela addressed journalists from most Maltese media houses following their first official meeting.

Most media houses were also present for Grech’s first press conference since his election as PN leader last Saturday.

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