“History is once again calling on the PN to defend Independence.” Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil stepped up criticism of the cash-for-citizenship scheme by turning to the unlikeliest of allies... Dom Mintoff.

In a repeat of his fiery speech in Parliament last week, Dr Busuttil yesterday called the Government’s plan a betrayal of the work done by previous prime ministers.

He then mentioned the former Labour Prime Minister: “It [the scheme] betrays the work done by Dom Mintoff... who made Malta a Republic and for whom Malta came first and foremost.”

Mr Mintoff’s name was mentioned along with former Nationalist Prime Ministers George Borg Olivier and Eddie Fenech Adami, who respectively gave people their Maltese citizenship through independence and European citizenship through EU accession.

“Joseph Muscat did not work for these achievements and so he cannot appreciate what citizenship means,” Dr Busuttil told supporters gathered at the Safi PN club.

He insisted the Opposition wanted to defend citizenship from the Government’s “stinking” plan, adding it lacked transparency.

“The PN disagrees in principle with the sale of citizenship,” he said. A future PN government, he reiterated, would withdraw the legal changes and revoke citizenship obtained under the scheme.

Dr Busuttil appealed for consensus, insisting any future legislature should not be bound by decisions taken today. He said “at some point the PN will be in government” and this was why the party was appealing for consensus to be reached.

Dr Busuttil than rallied the troops around the PN’s battle cries of old.

“History is once again calling on the PN to defend Independence; what makes us Maltese and European and to defend the country from the abuse of power perpetrated by a Labour government.”

His reference to abuse of power was in relation to last week’s arrest and interrogation of customs official and former TV presenter Norman Vella over allegations that he photographed two government spokespeople at passport control.

The police seized Mr Vella’s mobile phone and tablet, which were only released under a magistrate’s instructions after Mr Vella took his plea to court and won.

Dr Busuttil expressed solidarity with Mr Vella, adding the Government had put him through hell on the basis of an invention – the alleged photos were never found.

The Opposition leader said it was a shame the Police Commissioner went to court to defend the abuse.

“He [the Police Commissioner] had better remember he is there for all the people and not just for the Labour Party or the Government. If he is not capable of doing this he should step aside before causing more harm to the force’s credibility.”