Vanuatu declares “no fault, no revocation” for Andrew Tate’s citizenship after a government review of his acquisition process. This definitive stance ensures that the controversial influencer will retain his status as a Vanuatu national, despite his high-profile legal issues in other parts of the world. The government’s decision hinges on the legality and procedural correctness of the initial grant.
Government spokesperson Kiery Manassah stated that the citizenship office thoroughly examined Tate’s documents and found that he was cleared by Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was granted. This adherence to established procedures at the time is the basis for the government’s current position, indicating that all necessary checks were conducted under the regulations then in force.
Manassah acknowledged that if the government had been aware of the serious allegations against Tate at the outset, his citizenship application would have been rejected. He clearly articulated this regret, stating, “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 emphasized that they cannot legally revoke citizenship based on information that emerged after the fact.
The ongoing controversy has spurred Vanuatu to strengthen its citizenship-by-investment program. The government is committed to implementing more robust due diligence processes to prevent future instances of individuals with problematic backgrounds from acquiring citizenship, aiming to restore the program’s credibility and improve its international standing.