PN to file judicial protest against government and IIP concessionaires

The Nationalist Party will tomorrow file a judicial protest against the government and Henley and Partners, the concessionaires of the cash-for-citizenship scheme, PN Leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.

Addressing the Nationalist Club in Birkirkara, Busuttil said the main goal of this judicial action would be to inform the applicants that the scheme is being investigated by the European Commission on the basis of disloyalty and that a PN government would repeal the passports.

"The Nationalist Party will file a judicial protest to stress what this citizenship scheme really entails," Busuttil stressed.

"Consequently, those beneficiaries must be told their passports will remain valid until the next election as the next PN government will repeal the passports awarded by this scheme," he argued.

In a fresh turn of events, the Opposition leader also called on Labour MPs to speak up and make their voice heard by challenging the scheme.

"Notwithstanding the government's nine-seat majority in parliament, the Opposition would be challenging the legal notice of the citizenship scheme in parliament," Busuttil explained while insisting that the majority of the country is against the scheme.

"However, we need the MPs from the other side of the House to stake their claim on the scheme and come out against it in the interest of the country. We are ready to do it, but now it is your turn also," Busuttil argued while calling on Labour MPs.

'Government is isolated' - Busuttil

Meanwhile, in light of the European Parliament chiding Malta for granting EU citizenship to rich non-European expats, Busuttil said the government is "completely isolated."

Earlier this week MEPs from all political ideologies lambasted Malta for granting EU citizenship to the rich, while being the first to demand solidarity on the influx of dispossessed asylum seekers seeking refuge into Europe.

"Joseph Muscat's cash-for-citizenship scheme merely garnered 22 votes in favour. The four Labour MEPs only managed to convince just two fellow Socialists and 18 other extremists - a shabby return from a parliament laden with 750 people," Busuttil argued.

"This goes to show that the government's arguments in wanting to sell the European citizenship would not subsist, because even MEPs from its same political ideology (Socialists) voted against the citizenship scheme."

Meanwhile, Busuttil also said that in wanting to sell the European passport, the government is also infringing the European principle of loyal cooperation.

"When Malta signed the European treaties, it bound itself to the most fundamental principles of the EU - most notably the principle of loyalty to its fellow members," he explained.

"Through this cash-for-passport scheme, the government is not only opening its doors to non-European expats, but is also giving them all a ticket and the freedom to roam around the EU countries," Busuttil argued.

Turning his attention on the issue of immigration, the PN leader lambasted the government for being the first to ask for greater solidarity on migration while at the same it is being disloyal to the EU's fellow member states.

On the PN's stand on the Individual Investor Programme, Busuttil insisted that the party is against the government "prostituting Malta and using it as a pawn."

In light of the government accusing the PN and its MEPs of working against the country's national interest, Busuttil said the PL does not regulate the national interest and moreover, "abuse of power does not regulate national interest."