Update 2 | Nationalist Party says Kevin Plumpton will remain an MEP candidate

The Nationalist Party has insisted that Kevin Plumpton will still contest the forthcoming MEP elections on the PN ticket.

Earlier this evening, Plumpton was reportedly removed from the party's MEP election campaign and media events after he had called on the Nationalist Party to shed its partisan approach on the citizenship scheme - a stand which the PN disassociated itself.

Contacted by MaltaToday, PN Communications Director David Herrera refused to comment on the decision to remove the MZPN President from the party's election campaign, dubbing it as an "internal matter."

"The issue is an internal matter that does not warrant any further comments," Herrera underlined.

"The party's stand regarding Kevin Plumpton's comments on the citizenship scheme was voiced earlier today," he said.

According to the Malta Independent, Plumpton was informed about the party's decision by the president of the PN's administrative council Karol Aquilina.

However, in a reaction this evening, the Nationalist Party stressed that Kevin Plumpton is still a PN candidate for the Member of European Parliament elections.

"In light of malicious reports alleging that Plumpton would not remain a PN candidate, the party denies these reports as Plumpton was and still is a party candidate," the PN said.

Meanwhile, contacted for his comments, Plumpton refused to answer his phone.

Incidentally, this evening, the head of the Commission for the revision of the PN statute Francis Zammit Dimech, said the Nationalist Party would be establishing a committee to regulate and monitor the behaviour of the party's candidates.

MEP hopeful Kevin Plumpton landed in hot water after urging the Nationalist Party to put its partisan interests aside and back the contentious citizenship scheme for the "country's best interests."

Writing on his Facebook wall, Plumpton called on the PN to withdraw its judicial protest warning prospective applicants for Maltese passports that the PN will revoke all IIP citizenships if elected to power.

He also paid tribute to the party's "incessant criticism" of the scheme, saying it was down to the PN that the cash-for-citizenship scheme was revised for the third time.

"Thanks to Simon Busuttil, the scheme has been changed into one which safeguards the national interest. Now we should withdraw the judicial protest and work together with government to attract investment for the Maltese people," Plumpton wrote.

However, in a reaction, the Nationalist Party disassociated itself from Kevin Plumpton's comments.

"This is Kevin Plumpton's personal opinion and does not reflect, in any way, the Opposition's position," the PN said in an official statement.

Meanwhile, earlier another PN candidate Helga Ellul said that the scheme could benefit the country as long as the €1 billion development fund is administered correctly.

Speaking on the PN's radio station, the MEP hopeful, herself a naturalised citizen said "If the money is used and administered in a correct and transparent way, it will still benefit the country."