The Nationalist Party will present a number of amendments to the Citizenship Act Amendment Bill, which will set up the Individual Investor Programme.
Addressing a press conference tonight, PN Leader Simon Busuttil said that the amendments will affect the role of those eligible for marketing the scheme. “Local financial institutions should also be made eligible.”
Another amendment will be seek to change the Bill so that only persons who have lived in Malta for a number of years can be granted citizenship. Another will require applicants to invest in Malta. “Another important amendment is for the list of people who are given a Maltese passport to be published.”
Dr Busuttil said that everyone who is proud to be Maltese has been insulted by the PL government tonight. The Opposition has been resisting this bill for the past weeks and will continue to do so if it remains in its current form. "We will continue our struggle to make this Bill a better one."
“The Opposition appealed to the government to seek consensus, but unfortunately the government used its parliamentary majority to steamroll over the it and the people.”
Dr Busuttil said that the PN’s primary objection to the bill is a matter of principle. “We do not agree that citizenship should be for sale. It does not have a price. With the scheme, citizenship will be under attack. It will tarnish our reputation. We will become like Caribbean countries that are only known as a safe haven for those who want to evade taxes. Maltese citizenship is not Joseph Muscat’s to give.”
Dr Busuttil hoped that the government would listen to the PN’s proposals. But if they were ignored, the Opposition would reserve its right to stop the scheme and revoke the given passports when it returns to power. He insisted that the PN’s position on the matter was legally correct.
“The Opposition wants to cooperate. It is offering its hand of friendship. But the government has not moved an inch.” The PN Leader said that the party has to have faith that the government accepts its amendments.