Vanuatu is holding the line on Andrew Tate’s citizenship, citing valid initial clearances from international authorities. This firm stance by the government means the controversial influencer will continue to be a Vanuatu national, amidst ongoing legal challenges in other parts of the world. The decision prioritizes the adherence to initial legal procedures.
According to government spokesperson Kiery Manassah, a thorough review by the citizenship office confirmed that Tate had received all necessary clearances from Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was originally granted. This compliance with the procedures at the time provides no basis for immediate revocation.
Manassah conceded that if the government had been aware of the serious allegations against Tate at the time of his application, his citizenship would have been denied. He admitted, “If the government had been aware of this at the start, and our processes were working, we should have not allowed him in the first place.” However, he stressed that current laws do not allow for the arbitrary revocation of citizenship based on information that emerged after the fact.
This situation has underscored the need for significant reforms within Vanuatu’s citizenship-by-investment program. The government has committed to implementing more robust due diligence processes to prevent similar incidents and to improve the program’s international standing, aiming to ensure more stringent vetting of applicants.