The Nationalist Party said today that it expected Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia to keep his own word and resign, once the residency requirement had been included in the citizenship scheme.

The new rules of the scheme were published today.

The PN reiterated that during the talks between the government and the opposition on the scheme, Dr Mallia had said he would resign from parliament if even one day of residence was required.

The new rules require one year.

The PN noted that Labour deputy leader Toni Abela yesterday criticised the PN for revealing what was said in the talks, but did not deny that the minister had made that declaration.

Neither had Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici, who had been present along with the Opposition representatives Jason Azzopardi and Karol Aquilina. 

The PN said it had raised the case after the prime minister wrongly claimed that what was agreed about the scheme with the EU had previously been discussed the opposition and the government had offered a year of residence.  This, the PN said, was not true.