I think that realistically the PN will have a difficult time justifying a blanket revocation of citizenship to everyone. After all, those people who will actually buy a passport would have done so legitimately (hopefully) whether we like it or not.

Why the hassle? They got what they wanted after all.

[Daphne – ‘Why the hassle?’ To keep out of power the party which has committed itself to revoking those passports, Sapiens. In other words, the same reason we rushed to vote to keep Labour out of power in 2003.]

According to the arranged scheme the residency permit is now newly available as soon as two easy conditions are fulfilled.

The intent to deceive is clear from the wording used in all the press conferences, linking the schemes to investment and additional employment on the island.

Malta Development Association and the Estate Agency Federation (or similar name) under Ian Casolani – who was present at the launch of the Passport Scheme in London, were vociferous in their complaints and pre-election visibility on this score.

One wonders at what point Professor Bannister was indeed made aware of this scam.

I would wager it was prior to the elections.

The Labour Party should have disclosed:

i) its 2010 agreement with China;
ii) its agreement with Henley & Partners.

The Labour government should disclose:

i) the nature of that agreement with China;
ii) the nature of its agreement with Henley & Partners;
iii) the briefing and conditions under which its ‘special envoys’ operate.

We have no transparency on any account. And the buffering continues.

I totally agree. This is madness.

Keep an eye on this:

“Since the new identity cards will contain electronic features, they can no longer be issued at the same time of application, although details on the distribution of newly-printed cards will only be given at a later stage”

Electronic features can be duplicated at will and used as necessary by anyone amoral enough to do so.

What’s the track record been?

[Daphne – http://www.independent.com.mt/mobile/2013-01-05/news/-332000-voters-eligible-for-9-march-election-635273216/ ]

If they will be paying income tax and VAT in Malta they will have the right to vote here.

[Daphne – No. The right to vote is not linked to taxation, which is why people who don’t pay tax (because they are under the threshold or because they don’t work) do not lose their vote, while lots of people who do pay tax in Malta (non-Maltese who are employed in Malta, for example) do not have the right to vote because they are not citizens. The right to vote in Maltese GENERAL elections is tied primarily to citizenship AND residence. In other words, the salient documents are your passport and your identity card. The third condition, having been in Malta for at least six months in the year leading up to the general election, is open to dispute on many fronts.]

The PN insisted on throwing them out because there was no residency; it seems that now they should be accepted, once the EU standards are that low.

Reding’s decision confused me. We will read the small print when everything is made public.

One classic example not to be missed: 1981, pre election campaign, at Zebbug. A meeting is held in the main square and is nearing its end. Philip Muscat, then Minister for Education, is speaking.

Then the crowd whispers “Mintoff is here”. Mintoff takes the stand, shoulder to shoulder with Philip Muscat. He snatches the microphone from Muscat. He addresses the crowd and passes a remark about Muscat. Then in the most solemn way he declares that EDUCATION TOO HAS TO BE SOCIALIST. That was a declared battle cry.

It took three years of brewing and stewing to come to the fore. When it did come to the fore, the country was on the path to civil unrest.

This is the NEW WAY OF DOING POLITICS that Joseph Muscat publicly and solemnly announced repeatedly. This is the NEW WAY STYLE OF POLITICS as he dreamed of and on which Manuel Mallia went sleep walking. Brilliant.