I refer to the letters "Dual citizenship" (The Sunday Times, January 22) and "Renounced foreign citizenship" (March 12) by Joanna Refalo of Qala, Gozo.

Ms Refalo has chosen to disregard the evolution of citizenship developments along the years. Indeed she remarked in one of her letters that "the 1964 Constitution states that we never ceased to be Maltese".

Insofar as dual citizenship is concerned Article 27 (1) of the 1964 Constitution stated that:

"Any person who, upon his attainment of the age of 18 years, is a citizen of Malta and also a citizen of some country other than Malta shall cease to be a citizen of Malta upon the attainment of the age of 19 years unless he has renounced his citizenship of that other country."

Moreover, sub-article (3) of Article 27 stated further that a citizen of Malta shall cease to be such a citizen if, having attained the age of 18 years, he acquires the citizenship of some country other than Malta by a voluntary act (other than marriage).

Sub-article (4) of the said Article 27 stated also that a person who "becomes a citizen of Malta by registration under sections 23, 24 or 26 of the Constitution; and is immediately after the day on which he becomes a citizen of Malta also a citizen of some other country, shall cease to be a citizen of Malta on the expiration of six months after the date on which he acquired citizenship of Malta unless he has renounced his citizenship of that other country."

It follows, therefore, that the Constitution did not allow an adult citizen of Malta to possess dual citizenship. This was the position until August 1, 1989. As from this date the Constitution was amended to introduce the concept of dual citizenship for Maltese emigrants only. The persons concerned had to be born in Malta and must have been emigrated for a period of six years, among other conditions.

The Constitution was further amended on February 10, 2000, when all details concerning citizenship matters were removed and were transferred to the Maltese Citizenship Act (Cap 188). The Act was also amended on the said date insofar as dual citizenship is concerned. Dual citizenship was then made the rule rather than the exception it was previously.

Indeed Article 7 of the Maltese Citizenship Act now stipulates that it shall be lawful for any person to be a citizen of Malta, and at the same time a citizen of another country.

As from February 10, 2000, all those persons who became citizens of Malta on September 21, 1964, or, subsequently by birth, and who have resided outside Malta for an aggregate period of six years, regained Maltese citizenship and, therefore, could hold dual citizenship.

In the light of this background it is therefore not correct for Ms Refalo to state that according to the 1964 Constitution "we never ceased to be Maltese". Prior to February 10, 2000, Maltese citizens who acquired another citizenship voluntarily, ceased automatically to be citizens of Malta unless they qualified to hold dual citizenship under the August 1, 1989 amendments.

Moreover, those Maltese citizens who acquired a foreign citizenship at birth and who failed to renounce such citizenship by their 19th birthday also ceased to be citizens of Malta. By means of the legislation that was introduced with effect from the above-mentioned dates, those persons who satisfied certain conditions "reacquired" Maltese citizenship.

Therefore, those persons who held a foreign citizenship and who "reacquired" Maltese citizenship as from February 10, 2000, could hold dual citizenship.

On the other hand, Maltese citizens who previously held a foreign citizenship and who, according to the laws of the country concerned can re-acquire the citizenship of that country, can as from February 10, 2000, also hold dual citizenship.

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