Busuttil ‘unreservedly condemns’ PM’s insistence to proceed with IIP

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of "destroying Malta's name" in less than 12 months of his premiership, in a reaction to news that the government will be going ahead with the Individual Investor Programme.

In a press conference, Busuttil said Muscat was ignoring a non-binding resolution voted upon by the majority of MEPs in Strasbourg, calling on Malta to amend its citizenship scheme.

"The IIP goes against European values and the concept of European citizenship... Commissioner Viviane Reding said it goes against European and public international law and that there would be negative consequences if Malta proceeds with the scheme.

"We unreservedly condemn the prime minister's reaction, who said he had taken note of the EP debate, but that he will proceed with the scheme," Busuttil said.

The Opposition leader said that the Commission could take legal action against the Maltese government.

The EU has no competence on the regulation of citizenship laws in member states, a fact confirmed by the European Council yesterday during the debate.

Busuttil also noted that the citizenship scheme was so unpopular as to even attract criticism by the majority of the Socialists & Democrats Group, Labour's political family, which voted in favour of the EP resolution.

"This government is a government of amateurs, it has no ideas, and it is not prepared to govern," Busuttil said.

The government has a majority of nine seats in parliament, but Busuttil said he will insist on debating the citizenship scheme in parliament again.