As political parties prepare their final list of candidates for the coming election, there is then another list of MPs who will not go for it again.

Several of them have already made it known months before. These include the Nationalist Party's Claudette Buttigieg, Ivan J. Bartolo, Chris Said, Ryan Callus and Robert Cutajar, while sitting minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, for Labour, had also called it quits some time ago.

More recently, Clayton Bartolo and Roderick Galdes had their name added to the list of absentees on the ballot sheet, not by their own doing but mostly as a result of controversies they were involved in.

Bartolo was kicked out of the Labour Parliamentary group but had been eyeing a return until last Sunday when he announced hw was pulling out. Galdes also resigned as minister last year but had been kept in the PL group until he was barred by the PL executive earlier this week.

As the list continues to take shape, it is known that other MPs will not be contesting.

For the Nationalist Party, former deputy leader David Agius will not be on the list along with Karol Aquilina. 

For Labour, MPs who have called it quits are Aaron Farrugia, Michael Farrugia and Chris Agius.

Aaron Farrugia served as Transport Minister in this legislature but was replaced by Chris Bionett midway through, and has since kept a low profile.

Michael Farrugia served as minister for health and social policy in the past, but was not given a portfolio in this term. Agius also served as parliamentary secretary under Joseph Muscat but had no assignment under Robert Abela.