Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/204636
9 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 2013 to political battleground "We were offering our cooperation to reach a consensus, but our repeated calls for a consensus have been ignored. We have no choice but to take a political stand" – Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil acts of treason with an enemy in a war in which Malta is engaged; are jailed in any country for more than 12 months, within seven years of becoming a citizen; never set foot in Malta over a period of seven years. "The citizenship-by-investment scheme as proposed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat puts Maltese identity on sale, lacks transparency, and opens up the doors to abuse of power," the PN said in a statement on Saturday. While opposition leader Simon Busuttil has claimed in the House that citizenship was "priceless", he is nonetheless keen on ensuring that the IIP is tied to a proven investment and residence over a number of years, as a prerequisite. "We're offering our cooperation, to reach consensus on a scheme that can be of benefit to the country and not one that jeopardises our reputation. But our repeated calls for consensus have been ignored. We have no choice but to take a political stand," Busuttil said. The opposition has said it does not agree with the way in which the IIP will work, which gives concessionaire Henley & Partners the exclusive right to promote the scheme and forward applicants to government agency Identity Malta. The PN says Henley will be carrying out the bulk of due diligence on applicants that it will itself promote, and that this represents a conflict in itself. "We are warning that when returned to power, we will repeal every citizenship sold by the present government, and this is in line with the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, which gives the government the right to repeal citizenship. Muscat should stop being stubborn in trying to sell our citizenship at a reduced price," the PN said. Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil: "We are warning that when returned to power, we will repeal every citizenship sold by the present government, and this is in line with the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, which gives the government the right to repeal citizenship. Muscat should stop being stubborn in trying to sell our citizenship at a reduced price" Denials on conflicts of interest Both Zammit Dimech and Commodini Cachia have rebuffed the accusations of conflict, with the latter gong as far as accusing the government of intimidation. "I have been representing such cases against various governments since 1997 and no one has ever tried to stop me from doing my job," Commodini Cachia said. "I cannot interpret this as nothing other than an act of intimidation. The government knows well enough my legal specialisation and it has never crossed my mind that it would seek to intimidate a lawyer carrying out their duty." Commodini Cachia, who is not an MP, however said she could not speak in the name of the opposition as to government accusations that the party was intent on delaying the IIP. "Do they expect me not to practice law or refuse clients who want to file a complaint against the government because I have a political opinion?" On his part, Zammit Dimech denied the PN was applying a delaying tactic. "We're just carrying out a democratic duty on the introduction of a radical law. The citizenship scheme was not part of the electoral mandate, and it's a scheme that changes the concept of citizenship." Zammit Dimech added that the "scandalous" accusation that he had a conflict of interest, was made after his legal office filed for the cancellation of the concessionaire's contract in court. "Arton Capital's arguments are different from those being raised in parliament. The firm is protesting the tendering process, while the political argument does not concern which firm gets to be the IIP's exclusive concessionaire… I would be the first to step aside if there was a conflict. It's extremely malicious that the government confuses the issues. Manuel Mallia, a lawyer, should respect our professional integrity." Zammit Dimech said the Opposition was against granting naturalised citizenship through a donation, and instead was seeking consensus on safeguards. "Citizenship is a step up from residence, so it doesn't make sense that applicants don't even invest in some property or public stock." Zammit Dimech added that if "there would be any conflict of interest, I would be the first to step aside". Henley reaction A partner from Henley told MaltaToday this week that he was "per- turbed" at the opposition's warnings, saying the Simon Busuttil's stand had taken him by surprise after Henley provided the PN with a presentation on the IIP. While Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi has stated that the Opposition was "in principle" against the sale of citizenship, it wanted to ensure that safeguards such as obligatory residence are introduced in the Labour government's citizenship plan, suggesting it would back amendments to the programme. Henley & Partners had already been appointed by the preceding Nationalist administration for assistance on the permanent residency scheme, and its overhaul into the High Net Worth Individuals scheme, which later was reformed and rebranded by the Labour government into the global residence programme. Henley partner Christian Kalin, in Zurich, said he was perturbed at the way the IIP had now become politically tainted. "We organised two separate meetings with the Nationalist Party's senior officials to explain the background to the citizenship programme and we explained in detail the due diligence searches that were being proposed. It was a very stringent process. In the first meeting we met at length with Tonio Fenech (shadow finance minister) and in the second meeting with Fenech, Kirsty Debono, Mario de Marco, and Jason Azzopardi," Kalin said.