The final say on the granting of citizenship in terms of the new citizenship programme would be the government's and not Henley and Partners, the international group which will operate the programme, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia told Parliament this evening.
He was speaking at the opening of a debate in parliament on amendments to the Citizenship Act which provide for the sale of Maltese citizenship and the setting up of the individual investor programme.
Dr Mallia said that when he first discussed the government's proposals in June, Opposition spokesman Jason Azzopardi had not been against the plans.
Interjecting, Dr Azzopardi said the talk at the time had been on the individual investor programme and there was no talk of Maltese citizenship.
Continuing, Dr Mallia said the government had continued to consult the Opposition, whose point of view gradually changed in the negative.
The government, Dr Mallia said, was trying to attract high value people to invest in Malta. This programme, therefore, would become a source of revenue for the country.
The Opposition was in panic mode because it knew that this investment programme would mean benefits for the country and its people. The PN wanted the government to ditch the programme, leaving taxation as practically the only source of government revenue.
Dr Mallia said that in terms of international public law, a sovereign country could determine how and to whom nationality may be granted. A programme such as what the government was proposing already existed in Austria, Cyprus and other countries.
Citizenship would be granted on the basis of strict regulations. Applicants, from outside the EU, would be screened by Interpol and the Malta police and would also need to be in good health. Applicants must not have any criminal convictions or pending cases. It would be ascertained that funds did not stem from money laundering.
Final approval of citizenship would be decided by the government, not Henley and Partners, which would promote and administer the scheme and which could have agents.
The names of those granted citizenship would not be published, for reasons already explained to the opposition, Dr Mallia said. However there would be a regulator to oversee the process. The regulator would be appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the Opposition leader. The regulator could be a retired member of the judiciary or a senior former government official.
The regulator would monitor every aspect of the individual investor programme and act independently of the government.
Dr Mallia said people may seek Maltese citizenship to improve their mobility through easier visa access. Furthermore, holders of Maltese passports could travel to 163 countries without a visa.
Others could wish to become Maltese citizens for reasons of stability, quality of life and taxation.
Citizenship could be offered without residence requirement. Applicants would be required to pay €650,000, which would go to the national coffers.
Dr Mallia insisted that this programme would not undermine Malta's reputation and Malta was following what other countries like Austria and Cyprus were doing.
He appealed to the Opposition to modernise itself and not to oppose programmes such as this.
The Opposition's reaction is being reported separately. See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131028/local/sale-of-citizenship-thratening-us-visa-waiver-agreement-shadow-minister.492337#.Um7AhVPFrZg