In view of the fact that the law for the acquisition of Maltese citizenship against a payment of €650,000 is about to be approved by parliament this evening, Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party is calling upon civil society to unite in calling for an abrogative referendum to strike out from the statute book the legal provisions.
Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD chairperson, said: “We are calling upon civil society to unite against this law which can cause damage to Malta’s reputation. The insistence of the government to protect the anonymity of these new Maltese citizens gives cause to great concern. We want full transparency and disclosure with regards to the identity of the persons benefiting from this scheme.”
Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson for Home Affairs and Sustainable Development, said: “The launching of this scheme has already raised eyebrows abroad. Malta has slowly and painfully made a name for itself as a reputable financial centre. The implementation of this citizenship scheme, with all the secrecy surrounding it, could endanger this hard gained reputation, with the severe consequences that all this could bring for Malta’s economy.”
AD, concluded Carmel Cacopardo, considers that once government did not heed civil society’s criticism of this legislation it is now incumbent on civil society to take the lead and challenge Government’s arrogance by calling an abrogative referendum on the issue. It is time to stand up and be counted.”
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Fid-dawl tal-fatt li hu mistenni li l-Parlament illejla japprova il-leġislazzjoni li permezz tagħha bi ħlas ta’ €650,000 wieħed ikun jista’ jixtri ċ-ċittadinza Maltija, Alternattiva Demokratika qed issejjaħ lis-soċjeta’ ċivili biex tingħaqad u issejjaħ referendum abrogattiv li jħassar din il-leġislazzjoni.
Prof Arnold Cassola, Chairman ta’ AD qal: “Qed insejħu lis-soċjeta ċivili biex tingħaqad kontra din il-leġislazzjoni li tista’ tagħmel ħsara kbira lir-reputazzjoni ta’ Malta. L-insistenza tal-Gvern biex iżomm mistur l-identitita ta’ dawk li jakkwistaw iċ-ċittadinaza Maltija b’din il-ligi hu ta’ tħassib kbir. Irridu trasparenza u informazzjoni sħiħa dwar l-identita ta’ dawk li ser jibbenefikaw minn din l-iskema.”
Carmel Cacopardo, Deputat Chairperson ta’ AD u kelliem dwar l-Intern u l-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli, qal: “Din l-iskema hekk kif ġiet imħabbra nisslet tħassib barra minn xtutna. Malta bil-mod u bi tbatija tul is-snin irnexxielha tibni r-reputazzjoni tagħha bħala ċentru finanzjarju ta’ min jafdah. L-implimentazzjoni ta’ din l-iskema ta’ ċittadinanza imgeżwra fis-segretezza ser tkun ta’ periklu għal din ir-reputazzjoni b’konsegwenzi serji ħafna għall-ekonomija Maltija.”
Alternattiva Demokratika, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo, tqis li ġaladarba l-Gvern ma riedx jagħti widen għall-kritika tas-soċjeta’ ċivili indirizzata lejn din il-leġislazzjoni, issa hu obbligu tal-istess socjeta’ ċivili li twitti t-triq u tisfida l-arroganza tal-Gvern billi issejjaħ referendum abrogattiv dwar il-materja.”
