In view of the current developments on the citizenship sale scheme, Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed its cautious worry about the turn the debate is taking.

AD Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said: “We welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has said that he is going to listen to what the EU Commission has to say and to proceed from there. We also welcome the fact that the Commission does not intend to give Malta any formal notice on the issue for the moment. This notwithstanding, we are concerned at the dragging on of this issue which certainly does not enhance our country’s reputation abroad. There are only two ways to this: either achieve a bipartisan consensus on a viable investment scheme, or otherwise taking the issue to the people to vote on the issue in a referendum on 24 May.”

AD Deputy Chairperson, Carmel Cacopardo, said: “The scheme was not in the PL’s electoral proposal, so a solution that produces a suitable compromise should be envisaged. Majorities in seats and voters cannot be bandied around in such a sensitive debate, especially in the light of the European and international backlash against the scheme. It is in the interest of all that an agreement is reached as quickly as possible. We therefore ask the government to suspend momentarily the scheme and we look forward to a mature debate in parliament on the legal notices attached to the IIP scheme.”

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Fil-kuntest tal-aħħar żviluppi dwar l-iskema taċ-ċittadinanza, Alternattiva Demokratika esprimiet it-tħassib kawtel tagħha dwar id-direzzjoni li qiegħda tieħu d-diskussjoni.

Iċ-Chairperson ta’ AD, Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Aħna nieħdu gost nisimgħu li l-Prim Ministru qal li sejjer jisma’ dak li għandha xi tgħid il-Kummissjoni biex imbaghad immexxu minn hemm. Nilqgħu ukoll pozittivament il-fatt li l-Kummissjoni m’hix beħsiebha tagħti lil Malta twissija formali għalissa. Madanakollu, aħna mħassba dwar il-mod ta’ kif il-kwistjoni qegħda titwal għax dan ma jagħmilx ġid lir-reputazzjoni ta’ pajjiżna barra minn xtutna. Hemm żewġ modi ta’ kif tista’ tissolva din il-kwistjoni: jew jintleħaq qbil bi-partisan fuq skema vijabbli ta’ investiment, jew inkella jkun il-poplu li jiddeciedi f’referendum fl-24 ta’ Mejju.”

Id-Deputat Chairperson ta’ AD, Carmel Cacopardo, qal: “L-iskema ma kinetx fil-manifest elettorali tal-PL, għalhekk jeħtieġ li jinstab xi tip ta’ kompromess. Maġġoranzi ta’ siġġijiet u voti m’għandhomx jidħlu f’dibattitu sensittiv bħal dan, speċjalment fid-dawl tal-kritika Ewropea u internazzjonali li qalgħet l-iskema. Huwa fl-interess ta’ kulħadd li jintleħaq ftehim mill-aktar fis possibbli. Għalhekk aħna nitolbu lill-Gvern biex jissospendi l-iskema għalissa u nittamaw li jsir dibattitu matur fil-parlament dwar l-avviżi legali marbutin mal-iskema ta’ investiment individwali.”