Angela Coleiro has withdrawn her candidature with the Nationalist Party, the openly transgender woman wrote on her Facebook page.

Coleiro said the reason behind her decision was personal, and that she had made her decision known to party secretary general Francis Zammit Dimech. Angela Coleiro has also resigned from her post within PN Equal Opportunities Forum, while retaining her post with the party’s television and radio broadcaster.

Coleiro was hailed as one of two PN transgender candidates contesting the general election. Following the announcement of her candidature, Facebook users shamed Coleiro’s gender identity.

Politicians from both sides of the House defended her. In the post announcing her resignation, Coleiro thanked all those who showed their support during her time as candidate. “Life goes on,” she said.