Another 2013/2014 key policy initiative by Joseph Muscat’s government was the scheme to sell Maltese citizenship to largely anonymised customers. The scheme, that was not anticipated in Joseph Muscat’s party electoral manifesto for the 2013 election, was shrouded in secrecy. A number of beneficiaries were exposed by Daphne Caruana Galizia and others for involvement in illegal or illicit activities that should have made them ineligible for the scheme.
The scheme was operated by Henley and Partners. Its chief executive Christian Kälin threatened Daphne and others with SLAPP suits and this with the tacit, if not overt, approval of government exponents. At least in some cases, the threat of SLAPP suits has had the effect of journalists retracting their stories. In spite of international concern and criticism of the scheme, it remains in place broadly unchanged.