Former minister Manuel Mallia this evening denied PN claims of abuse of power by granting a fast track citizenship to Codruta Mallia, his wife.

PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami earlier told a press conference that it had resulted that the Romanian wife of the former minister was given Maltese citizenship just two years after she married Dr Mallia. The law clearly stated that couples had to be married for five years before the foreign spouse could apply for Maltese citizenship.

Therefore, it was clear that the law had been broken. "Even worse is the fact that former minister Mallia broke the law to grant citizenship to his wife".

The shadow minister for justice, Jason Azzopardi also accused current home affairs minister Carmelo Abela of covering up this abuse of power.

He said that someone, including the prime minister, had a lot to answer on this blatant abuse of power and abuse.

MALLIA'S REPLY

In a reaction, Dr Mallia said his wife applied for citizenship by naturalization under the Maltese Citizenship Act and not on the strength of her marriage.

Foreigners may submit an application under this article if they had been residing in Malta for five years prior to the date of application.

"My wife satisfied this condition," Dr Mallia said.

"The Minister responsible for Citizenship matters has the discretion to grant or refuse such applications," Dr Mallia said.

"Applications for citizenship under such a provision are mainly considered under policy guidelines. In this respect during the previous legislature it was the established policy that requests, by persons who have been residing in Malta for a period of 10 years and who have children, who are citizens of Malta, even if such persons are not married, would be considered favourably - obviously if such persons are of good conduct and there are no issues that go against the public interest. Such a policy was retained by the current government.

"Several foreigners have been granted citizenship on the basis of this criteria both in the previous legislature and under the current government.

"My wife had been residing in Malta for the said 10 year period prior to her application and she has three children who are citizens of Malta in addition to the fact that she is married to a citizen of Malta.

"I did not examine her request and it was not approved by me. Indeed the certificate of citizenship was not signed by me but independently without my intervention.

"There was, therefore, nothing improper in the acquisition of citizenship by my wife," Dr Mallia said.