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2 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2013 Contentious citizenship scheme approved JURGEN BALZAN THE House of Representatives yesterday approved a controversial bill amending the Maltese Citizenship Act through which foreign citizens will be able to buy Maltese citizenship by paying a €650,000 donation. But as MPs made their way to Parliament they were greeted by an unusual sight, with some 50 members of the PN youth section clad in red and white face-paint and holding banners which read 'Our Malta for sale' and 'I'm proud to be Maltese'. The protest was held in a last ditch attempt to convince government MPs to vote against the IIP. Wearing white T-shirts and with their faces painted red and white – the colours of the Maltese flag – the young activists reenacted the Labour Party electoral billboards which focused on national pride and unity. Although the police officers present in St George's Square at first blocked the protestors from entering the square, the activists were later allowed to stand outside the Palace where they handed each MP a personalised, fake passport in which the PN youth section made their last minute appeal. As Prime Minister Joseph Muscat approached parliament, he briefly stopped to chat with the protestors where he was heard saying "I respect your position but I disagree and I am confident time will prove us right." The PN youth section president and MEP candidate Kevin Plumpton explained that the protestors were against the sale of citizenship without requiring long-term investment and residence. "The Labour Party was elected upon the call for national unity and pride however they are now selling citizenship. It law, with the PN's amendments is unacceptable that our to link the scheme to long-term Do you agree with the sale citizenship has been put residency and investment all up for sale without any failing to be approved. of citizenship for 650,000? long-term investment or The Opposition wanted to residence requirements. have citizenship granted on 26% YES Above all, the scheme's secondition of a minimum fiveONLY IF ACCOMPANIED crecy arouses suspicion." year residence and a minimum 9.8% BY INVESTMENT Opposition leader Si€5 million investment in the mon Busuttil said the OpMaltese economy. AdditionNO 53.1% position would continue ally, at least 30 days' residence in to argue against the sale of Malta would have to take place 11.1% DON'T KNOW citizenship to the very end annually. and appealed on all MPs Furthermore, the PN proto vote against the bill. posed the removal of the secrecy Asked if the PN considered the scheme. Moreover, the PN leader clause, arguing that it would tarnish supporting an abrogative referen- hinted that the Opposition would sit the country's reputation and Maltese dum, Busuttil said he had no com- on the monitoring committee and citizens had a right to know who was ments to add to what he has already would publish the names of those being granted citizenship. said on the matter. granted citizenship immediately. Despite Home Affairs Minister As expected the Opposition voted Although the government is claim- Manuel Mallia last week saying that against the Individual Investor Pro- ing this would be unconstitutional, the public was backing the IIP and gramme (IIP), yet the government's Busuttil said the party would go that it had understood the wealth nine-seat majority ensured that the ahead with its plans. such a programme could reap, the bill came through unstuck. On Saturday, the government de- Opposition leader held that the maThe award of citizenship through feated all bar one of the Opposition's jority of Maltese citizens were against the controversial scheme is expected amendments to the golden passport the scheme. "If you dare touch our to yield €30 million for the public coffers, half of which will go directly in the Budget presented on Monday and the remaining €15 million invested in a national development fund – an injection that will enable the government to limit the extent of indirect taxation in the budget but exposed the government to criticism of devaluing Maltese citizenship. The scheme has attracted harsh criticism from many quarters, with the Green Party proposing an abrogative referendum to repeal the scheme (see page 3) which it said would damage Malta's reputation. On Monday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil reiterated his promise Some 50 members of the PN youth section that a PN government would not held a protest against the citizenship scheme only repeal the IIP but it would also in parliament yesterday evening withdraw citizenship granted under citizenship, you will find the people against you and you will find the Nationalist Party standing up for the people." The latest MaltaToday survey published on Sunday proved the latter argument correct, with the majority of respondents expressing their opposition to the IIP citizenship scheme proposed by the government. The MaltaToday survey shows that with the exception of a slight majority of Labour voters, there is widespread opposition to the new citizenship scheme among all sectors of society. The survey showed that an absolute majority are in principle against the sale of Maltese citizenship to foreigners. While 53% are against the sale of citizenship to foreigners willing to pay €650,000 as proposed by the government, 10% would only grant citizenship to those who make a significant investment in the country over and above the €650,000 donation. Only 26% of respondents said they wee in favour of the bill.

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