Former minister Roderick Galdes has announced that he will not be contesting the upcoming general election, saying the decision was taken in the interest of the Labour Party and the country.In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Galdes said that his “highest interests” have always been his family, the party and the nation.He noted that there had been considerable discussion over whether he would stand as a candidate, but said he had already addressed the issue “clearly, directly and without hesitation”, adding that he stands by previous statements he made, particularly regarding events within the party’s National Executive.Galdes revealed that he had intended to contest a general election for the sixth time, once again seeking the trust of voters. He stressed that sovereignty belongs to the people, who should be the ones to decide who represents them.However, he said the Nationalist Party and what he described as “certain extreme factions” were trying to use his name in a partisan way to damage Labour.“It is for this reason alone that I have taken the decision not to continue my efforts to contest this election,” he said.Instead, Galdes said he will now focus on helping secure the best possible electoral result for Labour.He also said he is confident that what he described as “baseless allegations and calumnies” made against him will soon be disproven, adding that he hopes to continue serving with dedication and loyalty in the future.Galdes ended by thanking the communities of Qrendi, Luqa and Siġġiewi for their support throughout his political career.What do you think of this?•