PN candidate in ‘media blackout’ swears loyalty to party

Nationalist Party candidate for MEP Kevin Plumpton has reaffirmed his loyalty to his party and leader Simon Busuttil, despite being reportedly 'shut out' from media events after stepping out of line on the controversial sale of citizenship.

Taking to his Facebook page - again - Plumpton claimed he had removed the original post in which he said the PN should withdraw a threat to revoke citizenships granted under the Individual Investor Programme, out of his own free will.

"It is obvious that the Labour Party has attempted to spin the issue out of proportion and fanned rumours about my candidature. In doing so, Labour is obviously using its own yardstick as to how a party should deal with a candidate that expresses an opinion on a sensitive issue," Plumpton, also the president of the PN's youth section, said.

The PN has retained Plumpton as a candidate but it has not denied reports that his media exposure will be cut short.

"I consider this matter as a closed case and I will not comment on it any further," Plumpton said.

In his original post, Plumpton said that after the government had buckled under EU pressure to include a residency requirement for IIP applicants, the PN could withdraw a judicial protest it filed in which it threatens prospective applicants that it will revoke all IIP passports if it is elected to power.

Plumpton subsequently removed the post, but not before he posted and tweeted comments made by another PN candidate, Helga Ellul, in which she extolled the benefits of the alleged €1 billion in revenues the government claims it can reap from the IIP.

"I removed the post out of my own free will as it was clear that my opinion was being used sensationally and in certain cases manipulated by sections of the media and the Labour Party," Plumpton said.

"My Facebook post could be interpreted as ill-timed, as the Nationalist Party - rightly so - has stated that it will reserve judgement until the publication of the legal notice by the government to ensure that the changes announced by the European Commission are reflected in the text of the legal notice."

Plumpton insisted that he had "no issue" with the party, and that he was "honoured" to be a candidate.

"The Nationalist Party has always been a democratic and open party, and that is why I feel so comfortable and proud to work within this party... I have always been and will remain loyal to the Nationalist Party and to PN Leader Simon Busuttil."