Calling for caution with regard to the introduction of the citizenship Bill being discussed in Parliament, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the Opposition does not exclude any option including that once elected to government, it may withdraw all citizenships issued since the scheme’s introduction.

He appealed for the government to seek consensus as for the Opposition, the Bill is not right in principle and may have very serious repercussions on the island.

The Opposition will therefore be requesting that the committee stage of the Bill be held in plenary.

“There are things that money can’t buy and citizenship is one of these,” he said. “You should be ashamed of this,” he added, addressing the government.

Quoting the Chamber of Advocates he added the scheme will also cause “serious and irreparable damage to Malta’s reputation”.

Maltese citizenship is priceless and should not be sold. The Opposition’s stand is one of principle because the scheme in discussion is offering citizenship by sale and not by investment, contrary to what the government is saying. Consequently, it is not acceptable.

“We need to appreciate what we’re talking about,” he continued. “I fear the scheme is so rushed and the government is so interested in making a quick buck, that he is not appreciating what citizenship is – commitment and partnership with a nation which one loves”.

Maltese people have genetic and physical ties to the nation but citizenship goes beyond these. It is about respect and pride towards the nation and is therefore priceless, he said.

It is ironical and hypocritical that those who did not want the word EU on our passport want to sell our citizenship, Dr Busuttil noted while insisting it cannot be sold.

Our EU citizenship has added to the value of our identity and by this we have a right to be treated as equals in 28 EU countries.

He stressed that while the matter was very important to the Opposition, it was not for the government as its benches were empty. The fact that the government has a nine-seat majority does not mean it can roll over everyone else, he insisted.

The Bill was met with negative reactions from the business community, the Chamber of Advocates and individuals out there.

Noting that the Opposition wanted to discuss things with the government to find compromise, he highlighted that the government never showed will.

The scheme gives a blow to our identity and reputation. No EU country has a similar scheme. Only Caribbean countries known as tax havens exercise such schemes, he said.

It is unbelievable to think that a foreign company will be entrusted with granting these citizenships as in the case of countries a number of people have never heard of.

Our citizenship gives us the right to travel to several countries, including the US, without a Visa. Yet it can decide to reverse this and the minister would then be responsible.

Dr Busuttil believes it is a mistake to grant citizenship immediately to someone who pays, without ever having lived on the island. Individuals eligible for the scheme should also invest in the island and create employment, the PN believes.

Moreover, it does not make sense for a person to ‘buy’ citizenship and get discounts for partners and family members as if by means of some ‘buy one get one free’ scheme.

“We would like you to bring economic growth, investment and foreign companies to invest in the island, as you had promised before the election, to make €30 million,” he said. “The government should also not have set up such a large Cabinet, or pay a minister’s wife €13,000 a month, and give people four salaries if it wanted to make money”.

Dr Busuttil is also irked by the fact that the Bill mentions no limits to the number of people who can be granted citizenship and that a foreign company will be receiving commission for the number of citizenships granted.

“You are wiping your feet off on the passport,” he accused the government.

He also believes the minister has too many powers in such a sensitive matter even because concentration of power may result in corruption, as was the case in a number of foreign countries. Lack of transparency is also linked with the issue. The government does not want to publish the names of people who will be given the citizenship or the contract of the foreign company, he said, urging the minister to publish the full contract.

In conclusion, he said we should be proud of our citizenship. The scheme is a symbol of a government sending the wrong message that everything and everyone can be sold. It is also a symbol of the government’s deceit.

He had information that tomorrow, the Prime Minister is going abroad to sell the scheme, when this has not even been approved by Parliament.

Dr Busuttil also said in relation to Norman Vella’s case that the court today declared victory to freedom of expression. 

Beppe Fenech Adami (PN) said the scheme will bring several Shiv Nair’s to the island and by means of this, we will become second class citizens.

Parliamentary Secretary Edward Zammit Lewis said Dr Busuttil had contradicted himself. Moreover, his statement that the PN may withdraw the granted citizenship when in government was shocking and described this as abuse of his discretion. This sent a very wrong message, he felt.

He expected the PN to support this initiative as the Labour Party had done with regard to financial services. The PN had closed all doors to discussions by such a declaration, he added.

PN MP Joe Cassar said the PN has one voice and Dr Busuttil had spoken eloquently. Yet he was not a bully.

He felt that as a result of this Bill former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff was turning in his grave.