Vanuatu Says No to Revoking Andrew Tate’s Citizenship For Now

Vanuatu has officially stated it will not be revoking Andrew Tate’s citizenship for the time being, a decision that comes after a review of his naturalization process. This means the controversial influencer retains his Vanuatu passport, a point of significant interest given his high-profile legal issues in other nations. The government’s stance is rooted in the legality of the initial grant.
According to government spokesperson Kiery Manassah, the citizenship office examined Tate’s file and confirmed that he was cleared by Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was granted. This adherence to protocol at the time is the basis for the government’s current stance, as no procedural errors were found in the original application.
Manassah expressed regret that the government was not fully informed of the allegations against Tate when he applied, admitting that this knowledge would have prevented his citizenship. However, he highlighted the legal limitations on revoking citizenship based on subsequent discoveries, emphasizing that legal frameworks do not allow for arbitrary reversals.
The situation has put a spotlight on Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment scheme. The government is now focused on implementing stricter due diligence measures to prevent similar issues and to address the program’s “very bad reputation” on the international stage, aiming to enhance the program’s integrity and reliability.