The Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, Chief Justice Emeritus Joseph Azzopardi, has decided to close a case involving former Minister Roderick Galdes following an investigation into a complaint filed by Nationalist Party MP Karol Aquilina in September 2024.

The complaint concerned a video published on the government's official MaltaGov Facebook page, featuring Galdes, who was then Minister for Social and Affordable Accommodation, explaining changes to regulations governing private residential rentals.

Aquilina had alleged that the use of public funds to promote the video constituted a breach of the Code of Ethics for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries.

Investigation Confirms Video Was Coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister

During the investigation, which involved the examination of documentation and testimony from public officials, it was established that the video had been produced and coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister using its internal resources.

The investigation also confirmed that the cost of sponsoring the video on Facebook amounted to €53.61, with no additional expenditure incurred for its production.

Evidence gathered during the investigation indicated that the decision to produce and promote the video had been taken by the Office of the Prime Minister rather than the ministry headed by Galdes.

Galdes' Involvement Was Limited

In his assessment, the Commissioner noted that Galdes' involvement was limited to appearing in the informational video.

The Commissioner found no indication that the former minister had participated in decisions concerning the filming, editing or payments associated with the video's promotion on Facebook.

However, the Commissioner also observed that the government could have communicated the information about the new rental regulations without featuring a minister in the video.

The report further noted that this was the first case examined by the Commissioner's Office in which a minister appeared in an advertisement produced and financed by another ministry, in this instance the Office of the Prime Minister.

Commissioner Decides to Close the Case

Taking into consideration the circumstances established during the investigation, the Commissioner concluded that the case should be closed.

The report, dated 3 November 2026, confirms that Galdes' involvement did not extend to decisions concerning the production, editing or financing of the sponsored advertisement.

The case forms part of a wider series of investigations carried out by the Office of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life concerning the use of public funds for government advertisements featuring members of the executive.

The Commissioner has previously raised concerns about the practice of ministers appearing in publicly funded advertisements and has called for clearer, legally enforceable rules governing government advertising.