Labour Party Faces Internal Challenges Over Election Candidate Selection

28 April 2026, 22:01 · Updated 29 April 2026, 19:02

Following earlier reports that the Labour Party executive blocked former minister Roderick Galdes from contesting the election, new developments have emerged regarding the party's candidate selection process.

The Labour Party executive has approved 26 candidates to contest the election, with 13 of them being first-time contenders. However, the executive also rejected the candidacy of former minister Roderick Galdes.

Mr Galdes has formally challenged the party's decision, stating that the vote which blocked his bid was irregular. He is seeking to overturn this rejection.

Separately, The Maltese Herald reported that Prime Minister Robert Abela decided to forbid former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo from contesting the general election. This decision was reportedly made against the advice of Deputy Leader Alex Agius Saliba, who had insisted that Mr Bartolo should be allowed to contest despite ongoing investigations.

Former minister Roderick Galdes has formally challenged his exclusion from the Labour Party's list of general election candidates. This development follows the party executive's decision to reject his candidacy.

NET News reported that Mr Galdes has filed a formal complaint directly challenging Prime Minister Robert Abela over the matter. This indicates a continued internal dispute within the party regarding candidate selection.

Meanwhile, Times of Malta reported that the Labour Party has approved another batch of new candidates who will be contesting the upcoming general election. More candidates are expected to be approved in the near future.

The Labour Party's national executive has officially approved a second group of 26 candidates who will contest the upcoming general election. This decision follows a vetting process conducted by the party's Candidate Commission.

Separately, former minister Roderick Galdes has reportedly filed a complaint with Labour Party officials. This action comes after an internal vote by the party executive blocked his bid to contest the general election as a candidate. The rejection of Mr Galdes occurred during a secret ballot held on Monday.