Alternattiva Demokratika has appealed to the government to suspend its citizenship scheme and open negotiations with the European Union, following Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding’s declaration that the scheme infringes the Treaty on the European Union.

AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said that although citizenship was a matter reserved for the member states, each country was obliged to refrain from acting in a manner that could impact the other members.

AD chairman Arnold Cassola, said: “Joseph Muscat must stop being obstinate and listen to the voice of reason. Unfortunately, because of his irresponsible antics, the Prime Minister has managed to give Malta a terrible international reputation, with the result that Malta has been condemned by the European Parliament, just as in the past Hungary, Italy and France were condemned because of the irresponsible actions of their respective leaders, Viktor Orbán, Silvio Berlusconi and Nicolas Sarkozy.”