Talks between the government and the Opposition on the citizenship scheme started today, with both sides binding themselves to confidentiality.

The first meeting was held at the Palace. MFSA chairman Joe Bannister chaired the meeting, which involved Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia, Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici, and  home affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi and Karol Aquilina representing the PN.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said yesterday no consensus can be reached unless the government drops outright sale from the equation.

On Friday, within hours of the President signing the scheme into law, the government said it would drop the secrecy provisions of the scheme.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said he was prepared to hold fresh talks with the opposition on the rules of the scheme but said he was not afraid of seeking the people's verdict if they failed - a reference to a possible referendum.

Yesterday Dr Muscat left for Miami where he will be a keynote speaker at a  conference by Henley and Partners where the Maltese citizenship scheme is being promoted. Henley and Partners have been engaged by the government to administer the scheme.

Dr Busuttil said that the Nationalist Party was “in principle” against the sale of citizenship.

“If the government is not prepared to address our objection in principle, no consensus can be reached,” he told the Times of Malta.

If the government was ready to meet the Opposition’s condition, consensus could be reached on the details, he said.

The details include the linking of the granting of citizenship to investment and residence.