Galdes confirms he will not seek a Labour run
Former minister drops his objections to Labour executive's decision to bar him from contesting
Roderick Galdes has dropped his objections to a Labour decision to bar him from contesting, saying he will no longer seek an electoral run.
Galdes, a former housing minister who quit following multiple reports about his private property portfolio, was blocked from running on the Labour ticket by the party’s executive.
He subsequently filed an objection to that decision, saying the vote against him was marred by irregularities and should be retaken.
On Saturday morning, Galdes said he was dropping his objections and would instead “focus all my energy on working for the best possible result for the Labour Party”.
Prime Minister Robert Abela, who met with Galdes privately this past week, has said that Galdes “puts the party before himself” and “still has a lot to give the party”. Neither side has disclosed what was discussed in those private meetings or if Galdes was promised anything to drop his contestation.
Writing on Saturday, Galdes blamed “the Nationalist Party and some extreme factions within it” for using his name to try and damage Labour.
“I remain convinced that the allegations and calumnies said about me will unravel soon, and after that I will be able to serve as I always did, with loyalty and dedication,” he added.
Galdes served as an Qormi councillor and mayor before being elected to parliament for the first time in 2004. He was made a junior minister in 2013 and a minister in 2020.
Sources within the Labour Party say he lost significant internal support in 2024 when 99 people switched their address to an unfinished social housing block in Siggiewi. The scandal cost the party its majority in the town’s local council.
Galdes found himself under further pressure last year in connection with Malita Investments, which was under his oversight, with regard to his personal property portfolio and due to alleged ties between a social housing contractor and Galdes’ brother.