Four candidates who contested the March local election in Sliema have thrown their names into the hat to replace Nationalist councillor Julian Galea, who resigned after creating a stir for saying he had a phobia of Labourites.

Antoinette Castaldi Paris, Nicholai Grech, John Pillow and Philip Andrew Ransley, who all contested the election, have submitted their nominations for the by-election being held on Monday.

Pressure was piled on Mr Galea to resign after a recording of him saying he had a phobia of Labourites was released on the eve of the March 10 council elections.

He also claimed he paid Labourite employees less than their Nationalist co-workers, sparking an investigation by the Director of Employment and Industrial Relations.

The 30-year-old politician apologised for his remarks but did not pull out of the election and made it to the new council despite not reaching the quota.

However, he had a change of heart and resigned five days after being elected and before he was officially sworn in.

Reiterating his apology, Mr Galea said he wanted to ensure that the controversy would not dog the council in its work.

The by-election will be held at the Electoral Commission’s office in Valletta. All Mr Galea’s votes will be re-opened and the next preferences determined.

Mr Galea won 233 first-count votes of the 6,199 valid votes. By the time he was elected on the 17th count, he had 376 votes.The quota stood at 517.

Ms Castaldi Paris garnered 135 first-count votes, Mr Grech 58, Mr Pillow 99 and Mr Ransley 160.