Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party has followed attentively the debate on the amendments to the Citizenship Law as a result of which it will be possible to exchange a donation of €650,000 with citizenship to persons whose identity shall be kept secret.
AD Chairperson Arnold Cassola emphasised that instead of defending the Maltese passport Government is putting it up for sale with a price tag of €650,000.
The proposals approved by Parliament, stated AD Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo, are objectionable for two reasons: because the committment to invest in Malta on the part of those applying for economic citizenship is nominal, as well as due to the lack of transparency.
Cacopardo added that whilst AD recognises that there were improvements to the original proposal in regards to both the due diligence required as well as in the creation of the post of regulator, the fact remains that the economic citizenship offered by Government is a threat to Malta’s reputation acquired throughout the years and which has resulted in jobs associated with financial services. These may now be under threat.
AD, added Carmel Cacopardo, has also noted the position of the Opposition which emphasised that once re-elected to Government it will withdraw the economic citizenship made possible with today’s approval by Parliamanet of amendments to the Citizenship Act. AD has notes that the Opposition has not published the legal advice which it has been given to justify its position, just as Government too has not published the advice on the same matter which it has received from the Attorney General.
AD, concluded Carmel Cacopardo, is of the opinion that there has not been a sufficient effort to ensure that a solutuon beneficial to Malta is arrived at. Being of benefit to Malta does not only signify obtaining the means to a livelihood but also that this is carried out with respect to its dignity and reputation.
Alternattiva Demokratika segwiet b’attenzjoni id-diskussjoni dwar l-emendi ghall-ligi tac-cittadinanza li permezz taghhom ser ikun possibli li bhala rizultat ta’donazzjoni bazika ta’ €650,000 tinghata c-cittadinanza lil persuni li l-identitia taghhom tibqa’ sigrieta
Arnold Cassola Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika enfasizza li l-Gvern flok ma jiddefendi l-passaport malti qed ibieghhu b’€650,000.
Il-proposti approvati mill-Parlament qal Carmel Cacopardo, Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika huma oggezzjonabbli ghal zewg ragunijiet. Minhabba illi l-impenn favur investiment fil-pajjiz mill-persuni li japplikaw ghac-cittadinanza ekonomika hu wiehed minimu, kif ukoll minhabba in-nuqqas ta’ trasparenza fil-process.
Cacopardo zied jghid li filwaqt li Alternattiva Demokratika tirrikonoxxi illi kien hemm titjib kemm fil-proposti dwar kif isir id-‘due diligence’ kif ukoll bil-holqien tar-regolatur jibqa’ l-fatt li c-cittadinanza ekonomika kif offruta mill-Gvern hi ta’ theddida ghar-reputazzjoni tajba li Malta rnexxielha tikseb tul iz-zmien, reputazzjoni li ssarfet fl-impiegi assocjati mas-servizzi finanzjarji. Dawn issa jistghu jispiccaw taht theddida.
Alternattiva Demokratika, zied jghid Carmel Cacopardo, innutat ukoll il-pozizzjoni tal-Oppozizzjoni li qalet illi meta tkun fil-Gvern tirtira c-cittadinanza ekonomika offruta bl-emendi li gew approvati mill-Parlament illum ghall-Ligi dwar ic-Cittadinanza. AD tosserva li l-Oppozizzjoni ma ippubblikatx il-parir legali li qalet illi ghandha biex tiggustifika din il-pozizzjoni kif lanqas il-Gvern ma ppubblika l-parir dwar l-istess materja mill-Avukat Generali.
Fid-dawl ta’ dan kollu AD, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo, jidhrilha li ma sarx sforz bizzejjed biex tinstab soluzzjoni li dwarha ma jkun hemm l-ebda dubju li hija ta’ gid ghall-pajjiz. Il-gid ghal pajjizna mhux biss li l-pajjiz jiggwadanja l-mezzi finanzjarji biex jimxi ‘l quddiem imma fuq kollox illi dan jaghmlu b’dinjita’ u minghajr ma jaghmel hsara lir-reputazzjoni tieghu.
