Former Social Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes has been barred from contesting the upcoming general election after the Labour Party executive rejected his nomination in a secret ballot held on Monday evening.
Sources indicate that a majority of the 35-member executive voted against his candidature, effectively ending his bid to return to frontline politics. The decision marks a significant development in Galdes's career, which had already come under strain earlier this year.
The former housing minister resigned in January following sustained scrutiny over his personal and political dealings, including reports linking him to contractors. At the time, Galdes had attributed the pressure to what he described as coordinated attempts to damage his reputation, also pointing to the impact on his family.
Despite his resignation, Galdes had remained active in recent weeks, appearing at public events and engaging with constituents, while promoting Labour's May Day activities.
The move comes shortly after another former minister, Clayton Bartolo, announced he would not contest the election, citing concerns over potential smear campaigns targeting him and his family.