Every Saturday, University of Malta professor Andrew Azzopardi hosts his radio show “Andrew Azzopardi on RTK103”, which is supposed to offer insightful discussions on current events. But last Saturday’s agenda, featuring interviews with various experts, overlooks a major scandal: the ongoing plagiarism allegations against Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.
Azzopardi, a staunch supporter of Metsola, makes no mention of the controversy surrounding her, despite the fact that it’s been making headlines across Europe. Could this be an intentional omission?
After all, Azzopardi himself has faced accusations of plagiarism in the past. So, is he trying to protect his own reputation by steering clear of this highly embarrassing topic?
“That a student plagiarises work is worrying, but that an academic and an RSO severely plagiarise colleagues’ hard-sought publications is unheard of at this alma mater,” Formosa charged.
Instead of tackling tough issues, Azzopardi’s show continues to be a carefully curated echo chamber, giving a voice to his circle while avoiding any hard-hitting discussions that might shake things up. If Azzopardi truly cared about accountability, last Saturday’s show would’ve called out the glaring hypocrisy of his political allies. Instead, he’s offering another safe space for the same old rhetoric.
