Abela dodges questions on Labour’s decision to bar Roderick Galdes
Galdes will continue to contribute to the party, Abela said of the former housing minister
Robert Abela dodged repeated questions about the Labour party’s decision to bar Roderick Galdes from standing for election.
On Monday evening, it emerged that the party’s executive arm had turned down the former housing minister’s candidature, with Galdes later describing himself as the victim of a “coordinated attack by a political group”.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, Galdes said a vote by Labour’s executive had ended in a tie, with 18 votes in favour of his candidature and 18 against, forcing a recount.
The decision effectively ends Galdes’s 22-year tenure as a parliamentarian.
Galdes, who had served in Cabinet for 13 years, had been forced to step down as minister earlier this year, after a series of revelations about his property dealings and links to housing contractors.
At the time, Abela had defended Galdes, saying the allegations were unproven, while praising his decision to “put the party and the government before himself”.
“There are many allegations and not one piece of proof of wrongdoing,” Abela had said in January, just days after Galdes’ resignation.
On Tuesday, Abela once again thanked Galdes for his contribution over the years, saying he will “continue to contribute to the party during the campaign and later on”.
However, Abela refused to say whether he agreed with the executive’s decision to block Galdes’ nomination in the first place.
“The executive is the highest organ in the party, and it took its decision,” Abela said, pointing to the “many valid candidates” the party would be announcing throughout the campaign.
“I look forward to seeing everyone, in their different roles, play their part for the country to move forward,” he said.
When pressed on the matter, Abela said, “When there was the need for Roderick Galdes to no longer hold a ministerial role, that is what happened”.
“I believe Roderick Galdes still has a valid contribution to make in different roles, and it is my job to maximise that contribution,” he said.
Abela also declined to comment on Galdes’ claims that he is the victim of a coordinated attack.
Galdes had made similar claims at the time of his resignation in January, saying he was subjected to “synchronised attacks” intended to ruin his political career.