Galdes says was victim of ‘coordinated attack’ after being blocked from running
The former minister was blocked from contesting the general election
Updated 11.40am
Former Housing Minister Roderick Galdes has claimed he was the victim of a “coordinated attack” after being barred from running in the forthcoming general election.
Galdes was blocked from contesting the May 30 general election following a secret ballot by the Labour Party’s executive yesterday evening.
In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, the former minister said he was the “victim of a coordinated attack by a political group”, without providing further details about those to whom he was referring.
He said the attack had been aimed at trying to “tarnish my name and carry out a character assassination through conjecture and false accusations, for which there is no evidence and which were never substantiated”.
In his first event on the campaign trail, Robert Abela offered an olive branch to Galdes and stopped short of endorsing the Labour Party executive's decision to bar him from running.
"I thank Roderick Galdes for his contribution. He did a lot of good and I think he still has a lot to offer and will be doing more in the future," he said.
Galdes’ departure from government came in January following a series of allegations linking him to prominent contractors.
Tuesday’s post echoes Galdes’ words at the time of his resignation, when he claimed the revelations about his dealings, published by Times of Malta, were “attacks” and that he had “done nothing wrong”.
While not providing details about his alleged attackers, the former minister laid the blame for his barring yesterday at the feet of “those who had an interest in removing me to make space for someone else, without giving the electorate a say”.
Galdes thanked his supporters while expressing pride in his record while in government.
“Although hurt by the decision, my principles remain firm for the future”, he said.
Sources told Times of Malta yesterday that most of the PL executive had voted to block Galdes’ nomination. This morning, the former minister said the vote had been tied 18 in favour to the same number against, leading to a recount.
In November, Times of Malta revealed that Galdes – whose remit at the time covered affordable housing – had bought a duplex penthouse in Gozo’s capital, including a garage, airspace and rooftop jacuzzi for €140,000 from Joseph Portelli’s Excel Investments.
Further revelations emerged in January – published the day after Galdes’ resignation – that Malta’s anti-money laundering unit had raised potential red flags on his younger brother’s business ties with a social housing contractor.