Ulysse Sabbagh

Non-European Union citizens with €650,000 ($873,000) to spare can now buy Maltese citizenship thanks to a new plan approved by the Mediterranean island’s parliament on Tuesday.

According to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the program’s goal is to raise revenue for the country and attract “high-value” people who will invest there.

Making citizenship a priced good makes it a commodity not different from chocolate or boats. Some things should not be for sale. (The link redirects to an excerpt of the book by Michael Sandel, What Money Can’t Buy. Very well written, concise and easy to understand.)