Former minister Clayton Bartolo has announced that he will not be contesting the next general election, citing concerns over what he described as an impending "disgusting and vile attack" targeting him and his family.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Sunday evening, Bartolo said he had been informed that such attacks would form part of the upcoming electoral campaign. He argued that this was intended to undermine the Labour Party's record in government while shifting attention away from policy proposals.

Bartolo, who has been regularly holding mass events to promote his candidature, explained that, following discussions with his family, he decided to step back from contesting the election. He added that Prime Minister Robert Abela has been informed of his decision.

Concluding his statement, Bartolo issued a stark warning, saying that those responsible for what he described as "torture" inflicted on him and his family would eventually be held accountable.

Bartolo's political standing had already been weakened in late 2024, when he resigned from his ministerial role after weeks of sustained pressure linked to controversy surrounding his wife, Amanda Muscat, and her high-paying public sector position. He was subsequently removed from the Labour Party's parliamentary group.

His resignation followed news of an investigation into transactions amounting to approximately €50,000 over a six-month period, involving a company connected to a contractor of the Malta Tourism Authority.

Prior to that, a report by the Standards Commissioner had concluded that Bartolo, along with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri, had abused their positions by facilitating a promotion for Muscat.