Godfrey Farrugia has resigned from the Labour Party, two weeks after he resigned his position as Labour party whip on the eve of the announcement of the election date.
He will be contesting the election with the Partit Demokratiku on the sixth and seventh districts.
In a letter he sent to PL president Daniel Micallef, Dr Farrugia said that the PL retained its name but lost it soul. The letter was made public on Dr Farrugia's Facebook page.
(Photos Baskal Mallia)
He quoted from Guze Ellul Mercer, who in 1929 said the following: “I am part of Labour because it was not built on the weak foundations of its (current) leaders but on more noble principles: the belief that whoever is born human, should live like a human being, work like a human being and eat like a human being, both in a rich or poor family.
The Partit Demokratiku later issued an urgent press call, with the venue being Naxxar outside the counting hall, further fuelling the speculation about Dr Farrugia's intentions.
Dr Farrugia submitted his nomination for the election just after 10am.
He will be contesting with the party led by his partner Marlene Farrugia, who also resigned from the Labour Party midway through the legislature to form Partit Demokratiku, which is now in coalition with the Nationalist Party.
Godfrey Farrugia nomination from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.
After submitting his nomination, Dr Farrugia uploaded a video on Facebook (top) explaining why he chose to leave the Labour Party and join Partit Demokratiku.
Asked about the resignation from the PL, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that he "wished him (Dr Farrugia) well."
On 29 April, Dr Farrugia had resigned from the position of Labour Party whip.
He later announced that he will not contest the election with the Labour Party.
In a tweet, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil welcomed the decision taken by Dr Farrugia.