Malta Greens: ‘Citizenship sale causing undue damage’

On the eve of a debate by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola has said that sale of Maltese citizenship was causing undue damage to Malta's reputation.

"The European Socialists are embarrassed by their Maltese colleague's scheme whilst the EPP and the European Liberals are openly condemning the Maltese government in their resolutions," Cassola said.

"Despite the fact that Muscat has created serious discrimination between rich 'high value' foreigners and normal 'low value' foreigners, as well as insulting the normal average Maltese worker that earns €15,000 a year plus their foreign spouses, who can only apply for a Maltese passport after five years of marriage as not being of 'high calibre' because they are not millionaires, we European Greens have refrained from specifically condemning and mentioning Malta in our resolution because the Maltese people are not to be blamed for the incompetence of their leaders."

Carmel Cacopardo, AD deputy chairman, stated that both Maltese and European Greens considered the granting of national citizenship on the basis of financial capability as undermining the spirit of mutual trust in citizenship matters.

"This might have huge implications for free movement, voting rights and the visa-waiver programmes that benefit all EU citizens. The sale of citizenship scheme is a betrayal of the spirit of Malta's political commitments as expressed in the Schengen agreement.

"Whilst it is to early to state where this will lead to, it is clear that the quasi-unanimity at the European Parliament signifies that that there may be serious political consequences in the near future. It is time for Joseph Muscat to start thinking before he acts."