Roderick Galdes: Campaigning On, Despite Labour’s Bar

In the heart of Żejtun, Roderick Galdes is back on the streets, knocking on doors, and chatting with passersby. You’d think he’s running for local council, but Galdes is no ordinary candidate. He’s the man who was barred from contesting the upcoming Labour Party primaries, yet here he is, campaigning like there’s no tomorrow.

The Bar: A Setback, Not a Stop

Galdes, a long-time Labour activist and former parliamentary secretary, was told he couldn’t run in the primaries due to ‘administrative issues’. A euphemism, many say, for his outspoken criticism of the party’s leadership. But Galdes isn’t one to back down. “I’ve been campaigning for Labour for decades,” he says, “I won’t stop now because of some bureaucratic hurdle.”

Campaigning On: The Galdes Way

Galdes is now crisscrossing Żejtun, his home town, listening to residents’ concerns, and promising action. He’s not just campaigning for votes; he’s campaigning for change. “I want to show that you don’t need the party’s blessing to serve your community,” he says, standing outside Żejtun’s historic parish church.

His campaign posters, a stark white with bold black letters, read “Roderick Galdes – Żejtun First”. No party logo, no colours. Just a man and his message. “I’m not campaigning for a party,” he says, “I’m campaigning for Żejtun.”

Labour’s Response: Silence or Support?

Labour Party headquarters in Pietà is a stone’s throw from the Grandmaster’s Palace, but it might as well be a world away from Galdes’ campaign trail. The party has maintained a stony silence on Galdes’ campaign, neither condemning nor endorsing it. Some Labour supporters in Żejtun, however, have been spotted wearing Galdes’ campaign t-shirts.

Galdes’ campaign has also drawn support from outside Labour. The Democratic Party, Malta’s main opposition, has praised his “courage and determination”. But Galdes is quick to dismiss talk of switching parties. “I’m a Labour man,” he says, “I just want Labour to listen to its people.”

What Next for Galdes?

Galdes’ campaign is a test of wills, a David vs. Goliath story playing out on Żejtun’s narrow streets. He’s not waiting for permission to serve his community. He’s doing it, one door, one vote at a time. But what happens after the primaries? After the election?

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” Galdes says, smiling. “For now, I’m just focused on Żejtun. On making sure our voice is heard.”

And so, Roderick Galdes continues his campaign, a man on a mission, a thorn in the side of the establishment. In Żejtun, in Malta, the story of one man’s fight for his community is unfolding, one campaign poster, one knock on the door at a time.