With reference to the proposed citizenship acquisition scheme, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “It is absolutely unacceptable that the proposed draft law will contain a ban on the publishing of the names of those persons purchasing a Maltese citizenship for 650,000 euros. This is absurd considering when one gets married the banns have to be made public 6 weeks prior to a marriage to ensure proper scrutiny, whilst to obtain Maltese citizenship anonymity is guaranteed. Is this meant to defend any possible shady character who might apply for citizenship, like government envoy Shiv Nair who is blacklisted internationally for fraud and corruption?”
Carmel Cacopardo, AD Deputy Chairman and Spokesperson for Home Affairs and Sustainable Development, said: ” AD disagrees with the excessive powers vested in the Minister of the Interior through the proposed legislation. The Minister, who through the proposed legislation is granted the exercise of substantial discretionary powers, should be completely out of the loop in the decision-taking process leading to the concession of Maltese citizenship. The final decision should be in the hands of a board which responds to Parliament.”
Cacopardo added that “existing legislation relative to the granting of Maltese citizenship urgently needs to be revised as current procedures are absolutely opaque, in contrast to the high level of transparency required.”
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B’riferenza ghall-iskema proposta ta’ bejgh tac-cittadinanza, Ic-Chairperson ta’ Alternattiiva Demokratica, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Huwa assolutament inaccettabbli li l-ligi proposta qieghda tassigura is-segretezza dwar l-ismijiet tal-persuni li jkunu xtraw ic-cittadinanza Maltija ghal 650,000 ewro. Dana huwa assurd meta tqis li ma wiehed jizzewweg, huwa obbligatorju li t-tnedija taz-zwieg tigi esposta pubblikament ghal sitt gimghat shah qabel iz-zwieg biex jigi zgurat l-iskrutinju mehtieg, waqt li biex tixtri c-cittadinanza Maltija l-anonimità hija garantita. X’inhu l-hsieb wara dan? Li tahbi xi karattru dubbjuz li jista’ japplika ghac-cittadinanza, bhall-mibghut specjali tal-Gvern Shiv Nair, li huwa blacklisted internazzjonalment minhabba frodi u korruzzjoni?”
Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika u kelliem ghall-Intern u l-Izvilupp Sostenibbli, Carmel Cacopardo, qal: “L-AD ma taqbilx mal-poteri eccessivi li qed jinghataw b’din il-ligi lill-Ministru tal-Intern. Il-Ministru, li permezz tal-proposta ta’ ligi qed jinghata l-ezercizzju ta’ poteri diskrezzjonali sostanzjali, ghandu jithalla barra ghal kollox mill-process decizjonali dwar l-ghoti tac-cittadinanaza Maltija. Id-decizjoni ahharija ghandha tkun f’idejn Bord li jwiegeb lill-Parlament.”
Cacopardo zied: “Il-legizlazzjoni ezistenti dwar l-ghoti tac-cittadinanza ghandha bzonn ta’ revizjoni urgenti billi l-proceduri attwali huma ghal kollox mcajpra, b’kuntrast mal-livell gholi ta’ trasparenza mehtiega.”
