Justice Minister to retain responsibility of citizenship programme, sources confirm

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici will retain the responsibility of the Individual Investor Programme, informed sources have confirmed.

The sources denied reports in certain sections of the media that Bonnici was losing the citizenship scheme to Economy Minister Chris Cardona.

“Bonnici is responsible of Identity Malta, including the major programmes such as the IIP. There has been no shifting or reshuffling of duties or competences,” sources told MaltaToday.

The Malta Independent reported in its newspaper on Saturday that “the prime minister has decided to shift the citizenship initiative under the Minister for the Economy Chris Cardona”.

The sources explained that a new addition to Cardona’s economy portfolio was the Malta Residency & Visa Programme (MRVP), a programme previously held by then junior minister José Herrera.

Following last year’s approval of the legal framework, Herrera, in March, launched the MRVP in Shanghai, China.

The MRVP aims to attract foreigners, who are not seeking to obtain a Maltese citizenship. According to Identity Malta, those interested in MRVP will be expected to contribute half a million euros, specifically by purchasing or renting property, investing in Government bonds, and giving a financial contribution to Identity Malta.

When the Prime Minister carried out a reshuffle in April in response to Panamagate, Herrera was promoted to Minister for the Environment while former home affairs minister Manuel Mallia was reinstated as minister for competitiveness and digital maritime and services economy.

A number of responsibilities previously held by Herrera were thus redistributed, and Cardona was given the MRVP.