The Opposition yesterday presented a motion to revoke Legal Notice 47 which encapsulates the regulations of the Individual Investor Programme.

It argued that the citizenship scheme does not mention that the 12 months of residency period should be effected before the acquisition of citizenship.

Neither does the 12-month period apply to the main applicant’s dependents, thus opening the door for abuse, the Opposition said, outlining its objections to the legal notice as drawn up.

Contrary to what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had said in a December press conference, the scheme would be operated by a private company and not a government agency.

The legal notice “irresponsibly” gave the right to Henley and Partners to receive its payment from the applicants and keep that payment during the due diligence period (between six months to two years) without any type of safeguarding measures in favour of the government.

The rules also gave power to the Home Affairs Minister to give out Maltese citizenship to applicants with a criminal record, those who were a threat to national security or those involved in activities which gave Malta a bad name.

The Opposition said the list of names of those granted citizenship would not be published separately from the list of those who acquired citizenship through marriage or naturalisation. For these reasons, it went against the national interest and against what had been promised by the Prime Minister.