ABBA leader Ivan Grech Mintoff has resigned from party, but has not withdrawns his candidacy, and will remain on the ballot sheet.

The flamboyant politician announced his departure from the party during an MEP election debate organised by the Broadcasting Authority on Tuesday.

He said he had come to this decision came after the party's secretary general, Simon Elmer, tried to "sabotage" him by publicly after Grech Mintoff filed a judicial protest against the Broadcasting Authority and used his position as ABBA leader in the documentation.

As election ballot papers have already been printed and early voters have already cast their preferences, Grech Mintoff, said he will still appear listed under ABBA, but said that now he should be considered as an independent candidate.

Grech Mintoff was in the news for throwing eggs as a form of political protest.