Updated 10.15 p.m.

The Nationalist Party said this evening that Kevin Plumpton was and would remain  one of its candidates for the European Parliament elections, and it denied reports to the contrary.

The statement came after the party distanced itself from a Facebook post by Mr Plumpton where he urged the Nationalist Party to withdraw the judicial protest on the citizenship scheme and to work with the government on attracting investment to Malta.

He said on Facebook: "Thanks to Simon Busuttil, the (citizenship) scheme has been turned into one which is in the national interest.

“We should now withdraw the judicial protest and work with the government to attract investment for all Maltese and Gozitans.”

The PN said Mr Plumpton's comments were his own and did not reflect the Opposition's position. It explained its position in a separate statement published this evening.

Mr Plumpton is the president of the PN youth section. He had organised the first protest  against the citizenship scheme outside Parliament soon after plans  were announced.

He deleted his facebook post after the PN issued its statement.