Abela defends Galdes, says 'no proof of wrongdoing' but praises decision to quit

Robert Abela has defended former Affordable Housing Minister Roderick Galdes, saying the allegations he faces are unproven, while praising him for putting the government and party first by quitting his role.

Abela said Galdes' resignation on Saturday would allow him to face the claims made against him without the burden of ministerial responsibilities.

“What I did appreciate was that, as he has always done, is put the party and the government before himself,” Abela said.“I admired that move that he took despite the fact that there is no proof and only many allegations.”

Galdes resigned on Saturday on the eve of a Times of Malta story  that revealed Malta's money-laundering unit had raised potential red flags over his family's links to a social housing contractor.

It followed an accusation by former Malita Investments chair Marlene Mizzi that he was "hobnobbing" with developers and a Times of Malta report revealing he bought a €140,000 penthouse from developer Joseph Portelli

Galdes claimed he was resigning over what he described as “attacks”, maintaining that he had “done nothing wrong”.

On Monday the prime minister insisted that, so far, no evidence of wrongdoing had emerged.

He stressed that until today, “There are many allegations and not one piece of proof of wrongdoing.” He said that Galdes’s decision to resign, on the other hand shows the high standards of this government.

Abela said the contrast between this administration and previous ones was clear. He said that the administrations before 2013, even when there was “outright proof of wrongdoing that was way worse than these allegations, would remain in their post until the people decided to get rid of them.”

“We have different standards, and now the ex-minister Galdes has the opportunity to clear his name,” he said.

He referred to the case of Carmelo Abela, saying he had been treated like a criminal until the Court of Appeal cleared his name.

He added: “Now Galdes will have the opportunity to clear his name himself and answer the questions put to him.”

Asked whether he had personally asked Galdes to resign, Abela said: “The discussions that take place between Galdes and I remain between us,” noting that there had been discussions, without going into further detail.

In-Nazzjon had reported on Monday that Mark Mallia, the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, had spoken to Galdes about his resignation, rather than the prime minister himself. Asked about this, Abela said he had never read the PN paper and did not plan to.

“Mark Mallia and I work very closely and he is my right hand. There was communication between Galdes and I, as well as with Mark Mallia,” he said.

Abela was also asked about reports that the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) had looked into a company linked to Galdes’ brother, which had received housing contracts.

Asked when he was made aware of the FIAU report, he replied that he was not aware of any such report and asked the journalist to show it to him.

He also described the Times of Malta story, which revealed that a social housing contractor’s business ties with Galdes’ younger brother had raised red flags within the anti-money laundering agency in 2021, as a “recycled story”.

He said it had been originally reported by a blogger three years ago.

Other allegations levelled at the ex-affordable housing minister include claims that he bartered an apartment in Xagħra for a plot of land in Għarb being purchased by property developers Joseph Portelli, Mark Agius and Daniel Refalo.

That would be the second private deal he reportedly struck directly with their company, Excel Investments, after purchasing a “bargain” penthouse and garage in Victoria last year.

In reaction to that story, Galdes said at the time it was “nothing more than an attempt to stop my work and hinder the political work I am doing with honesty and a sense of duty.” He said he had reserved the Victoria property, in shell form, at Ħal Gelmus “at the same prices offered to everyone at that time.”

His relationship with major contractors had already drawn scrutiny last year, over accusations that he was “hobnobbing” with developers involved in multi-million-euro social housing projects awarded through government-owned Malita Investments.