An architect of Malta’s regulation on financial services yesterday questioned whether comments made by François Hollande were actually beneficial to Malta.

Addressing a Finance Malta conference, Anthony Fisher said the fact the French President felt the need to say Malta was not a tax haven gave a perception that it was.

Mr Hollande made his comments during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in Paris earlier this week.

Making it clear the Maltese financial system was not comparable to Cyprus, Prof. Fisher warned attacks on Malta’s reputation, particularly in the international media, were set to increase.

“You have to be aware that the more successful Malta is in the financial sector, the bigger the attacks expected,” he said.