Manuel Delia, an anti-corruption blogger and activist, reacted with surprise to the European Court of Justice ruling that banned Malta's citizenship by investment program. The ECJ deemed that such practices reduced nationality to a commercial transaction, lacking the necessary bond between citizens and their country. The ruling, which countered previous expectations and a prior opinion favoring Malta, is seen as a validation of concerns raised by the late journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, spotlighting the need for genuine connections within EU citizenship.
"I screamed a little. I was expecting bad news," Delia expressed, reflecting on the surprise of the ECJ ruling, which was a significant victory in his long fight against Malta's citizenship-for-investment scheme.
The ECJ's ruling characterized Malta's golden passport scheme as a mere "commercial transaction," emphasizing that genuine links between citizens and their country are fundamental for EU citizenship.
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