Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil remains open to reaching a consensus on the citizenship scheme. Photo: Chris Sant FournieOpposition Leader Simon Busuttil remains open to reaching a consensus with the government on the citizenship scheme so long as his party’s principles are respected.
Speaking during an interview on Radio 101, he said he was not surprised to hear the social partners calling for an agreement, something they had long been doing.
The sale of Maltese citizenship, as proposed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, was both immoral and illegal, he said, quoting the warning of European Commissioner Viviane Reding.
“I expect the government to stop the scheme if it is really a humble government that listens.
“However, having heard the Prime Minister say he will forge ahead yesterday, I am not optimistic,” he said, reiterating that the Opposition would keep on fighting to stop the scheme or have it changed to one that did not go against EU principles.
He insisted the vote in the European Parliament – where 90 per cent of MEPs approved a resolution against the scheme – was a clear message that the EU was against the sale of Maltese and, therefore, EU citizenship.
The Prime Minister has a habit of turning the truth upside down
“This was the idea of Joseph Muscat and it is damaging the country. The Prime Minister has a habit of turning the truth upside down,” Dr Busuttil said.
“Any intelligent person will know that it was the scheme that damaged the country and not its critics,” he said, referring to Dr Muscat’s claims that the Opposition Leader had sold Malta by putting Europe’s spotlight on the country through the resolution at the European Parliament.
“For this damage to stop, the Prime Minister has to listen to this message and stop the scheme immediately,” he insisted.