Former minister Roderick Galdes said he believes he was the victim of a coordinated political effort to exclude him from the Labour Party's electoral ticket for the 2026 general election.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Galdes explained that although he had been unanimously approved both by the party's Candidates Commission and its administration, he ultimately failed to secure the backing of the National Executive when it met on Monday. The vote, he said, ended in an 18-18 tie, triggering a recount that still did not result in his approval.

Galdes argued that the outcome was not incidental, but rather the result of a deliberate attempt by a group within the party to remove him. He said the move came after 32 years of service and was aimed at damaging his reputation through what he described as unfounded allegations and conjecture.

He further claimed that some had a vested interest in sidelining him to make way for others, without allowing party supporters and the electorate to have their say.

Despite expressing disappointment, Galdes said he had been prepared to continue serving both the party and the country, stressing that public service had always been central to his political career.

He used the statement to thank supporters from various localities, including Qrendi, Luqa and Siġġiewi, who had consistently backed him over the years and encouraged him to remain active in politics.

Looking back, Galdes said he remained proud of his record, pointing to a number of projects, social reforms and initiatives he had been involved in during his time in office.

He concluded by calling for broader reflection on how political parties attract and support individuals willing to enter public life, particularly in an environment where, he said, social media is increasingly used to spread unverified claims without sufficient legal safeguards to ensure fairness.

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.