What wise words.

I would even go so far as to say that Joseph Muscat and all of Labour would have continued to feel shunned in Europe long after Mintoff’s disappearance from the international scene.

The sense of pride in developing Malta and seeing it develop potential, the knowledge that an action by one was an action forward for all – in business, in national stature, in personal stature – is not for Labour, by their own very public acknowledgement before the EU and in response to the EU vote.

We have mainly looked at things from the Malta perspective, where they bullied others, but the chip on their collective shoulders must be huger than suspected.

Their actions before the EU show a complete resignation to that acknowledgement.

This vote in the European Parliament is worse, because not only does it isolate Malta, but it groups it with a small number of politicians with dubious political credentials.

Being members of the Non-Aligned Movement was not helpful, but since it was a big group we were not prominent in it. In the smaller and more compact European Union our new supporters can only emarginate us more.

Multilateral diplomacy may grind slowly and it is surprising how isolation takes root.

Sorry Daphne, I have done some checks and not merely parroted govt propaganda. They have enough people to do that for them. I was pointing out political juxtaposition.

Cyprus does offer citizenship by investment in a manner similar to Malta. Here are some links to the Cypriot scheme:

http://www.investcyprus.org.cy/citizenship-by-investing/

https://www.henleyglobal.com/countries/cyprus/citizenship-by-investment/

http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/06/01/new-ways-to-obtain-citizenship-if-you-have-the-cash/

http://best-citizenships.com/cyprus-citizenship.htm

And some to the Austrian scheme.

http://www.wien.gv.at/english/administration/civilstatus/citizenship/discretion.html

http://www.austria-citizenship.com/

http://best-citizenships.com/austria-citizenship.htm

http://business-investor-immigration.com/austria-immigrant-investor-program-business-immigration/

http://www.globalcitizen.ru/en/ur/Austria/

http://www.second-citizenship.org/second-citizenship/citizenship-and-second-passport-of-austria/

Some links to Austrian citizenship law.

http://eudo-citizenship.eu/NationalDB/docs/AT%20Nationality%20Act%201985%20%28consolidated%20version%20as%20by%20Law%2037%202006%29.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_nationality_law

‘Selling passports’ is an emotive term but the countries above are conferring citizenship by investment. I would agree that the Austrian scheme is onerous and discrectionary, but it is promoted by the likes of Henley (them again).

For what it’s worth, I think these schemes should all be regulated on a pan-european level because the EU countries are supposed to be partners and bestowing citizenship is something that affects all, even though it is a sovereign issue. If you are going to issue a passport that allows a person to live and work in other countries, then they should have a say as well.

If such a framework existed, possibly we would have been spared the spectacle of a prime minister devising a ludicrous scheme whereby he really did think he could sell a Maltese (EU) passport in complete secrecy and no-one would notice. Plus cheap at the price compared to the other schemes which have much stricter criteria. Joseph clearly has not learnt that when in hole, do not dig deeper.

[Daphne – Gary, I trust you know what they say about a little knowledge being a dangerous thing. Practically all of the world’s states permit the granting of citizenship in exceptional circumstances to those who have contributed to the development, economic or otherwise, of the country. That is the law you are quoting for Austria (and other references). It is exactly the same in Malta, which is why some factory-owners have Maltese passports now when they started out German or something else. This is NOT a ‘citizenship scheme’. Citizenship schemes require separate, specific legislation. In addition, no country, not even Cyprus, is selling passports for hard cash. Please don’t confuse issues.]

Cyprus –
Andreas PITSILLIDES
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Sophocles SOPHOCLEOUS
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D

Eleni THEOCHAROUS
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Austria –
Heinz K. BECKER
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Karin KADENBACH
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D

Othmar KARAS
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Elisabeth KÖSTINGER
European People s Party (Christian Democrats)EPP

Eva LICHTENBERGER
Greens/European Free Alliance Greens/EFA

Ulrike LUNACEK
Greens/European Free Alliance Greens/EFA

Hubert PIRKER
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Evelyn REGNER
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D

Paul RÜBIG
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Richard SEEBER
European People s Party (Christian Democrats) EPP

Ewald STADLER
Non-attached Members NI

Hannes SWOBODA
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D

Josef WEIDENHOLZER
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament S&D

Angelika WERTHMANN
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ALDE/ADLE

[Daphne – Their countries do NOT have a ‘citizenship scheme which sells passports’. Instead of repeating Labour propaganda without checking, check. The closest they get is a visa, residence or – as in Austria’s case – citizenship for those who have contributed significantly to economic development. This is not sale of citizenship but something even Malta did on a discretionary basis all along – which is exactly why, wouldn’t you know, many of those German etc investors who set up factories here and employed thousands between them were eventually granted a Maltese passport and have dual nationality. There is no excuse for ignorance at your level, or for the parroting of propaganda.]

Ever since the Mintoff years it has been Fascist, what with the deluded harking back to some supposed unproven link to the Phoenicians, the authoritarian form of government, the deals with pariah states, the euroscepticism (a staple of the Far Right in Europe), the disdain for English and Italian and foreigners more generally; the list goes on.

Sounds like National Socialism to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationalSocialism

The party is already losing its friends and was clearly unable to exert influence on its own political group. As a party it is being ostracised already. As a country…well let’s just say “God help us”.