Former Labour minister Konrad Mizzi, who was expelled from the PL parliamentary group two years ago, has announced what was already clear to many – that he will not be contesting the election. 

Mizzi, who stayed on as an independent MP and was facing questions on the Electrogas deal at the Public Accounts Committee before Parliament was dissolved, wrote on Facebook that he has also found God.

In the lengthy post on Facebook, Mizzi said being a member of parliament for two successive legislatures was "a beautiful experience" that brought with it nine years of "work, results, struggles and lessons." 

He spoke about his work in the two portfolios he was given by former PM Joseph Muscat, the energy sector and the tourism industry, saying he looks back and sees "results and a strong economy". 

Mizzi said that in the past two years God had become a central part of his life, something that gave him peace. 

"I encourage more people to have faith," Mizzi said. 

He noted that the Labour Party's priorities have changed since he was first elected in 2013, but he was sure that the party will be at the forefront with new and ambitious projects. 

He thanked his team and his family for the support they gave him in the last years.

Mizzi lost the energy and health portfolio but retained the title of minister when the Panama Papers scandal broke out. He, together with former chief of staff Keith Schembri, were caught to have opened companies in Panama soon after the 2013 election.

He resigned from tourism minister in 2019 after the arrest of Yorgen Fenech, a shareholder of the power station company Electrogas. Fenech is accused of being a mastermind in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Mizzi was also involved, as health minister, in the deal which saw the government transfer three public hospitals to Vitals Global Healthcare group, which were later taken over by Steward Healthcare.. A court case was instituted by former PN leader Adrian Delia for the hospitals to be returned to the public. It is still ongoing.

The National Audit Office found a number of shortcomings in the selection process for that Electrogas project and concluded that the due diligence process was “insufficient”, among other things.