Prime Minister Robert Abela has publicly thanked former minister Roderick Galdes for his years of service, while stopping short of addressing controversy surrounding Galdes' exclusion from the Labour Party's electoral ticket.

Asked about Galdes' exclusion from the Labour Party ticket for the next election, Abela highlighted Galdes' contributions across multiple roles, including as a Member of Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary, and Minister. He described Galdes as a dedicated public servant who "did a lot of good in every role that he was entrusted with."

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Galdes would continue to play a role within the Labour Party, particularly during the upcoming electoral campaign and beyond.

"I am sure that he will be giving his contributions, and I believe that he still has a lot to contribute," Abela said, adding that such efforts should translate into "more value for our society."

However, Abela avoided directly answering whether he agreed with the party's National Executive decision to block Galdes from contesting the next general election.

For his part, Galdes has pushed back against the decision, stating that he believes he was the target of a coordinated political effort aimed at excluding him from the party's electoral lineup.

Galdes maintained that the decision was not incidental, but stemmed from a deliberate effort by a faction within the party to sideline him. He said the move followed 32 years of service and was intended to tarnish his reputation through what he described as baseless claims and speculation.