The government this evening reacted to criticism by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to the new legal notice on the citizenship scheme, saying the Opposition leader was hostage of an extremist faction within his own party.

In a press conference Dr Busuttil said the legal notice did not reflect what the government had agreed with the European Commission, and the Opposition would therefore move amendments.

In its reaction, the government said the text of the legal notice had been studied by the European Commission, which had approved it.

Dr Busuttil should admit that he had become hostage to an extremist faction within his party which had even ignored the comments made about the scheme yesterday by the social partners. They had looked forward to the implementation of the scheme.

"It is clear that Dr Busuttil's motivation is purely partisan and not in the inational interest," the government said.