The Maltese government has officially stripped Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States, of his national honours.
The decision, published in the Government Gazette today, terminates his 2016 appointment as an honorary officer of the National Order of Merit. The move followed revelations about his extensive links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The revocation was carried out under the Ġieħ ir-Repubblika Act, which allows the president to terminate memberships if a holder’s conduct is deemed unworthy. This follows public pressure and the release of documents within the Epstein files.
Mandelson’s ties to Epstein have created significant political friction for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer had appointed Mandelson as the British ambassador to the US, a role from which he has since been dismissed. Mandelson has also resigned from the House of Lords and is currently facing a UK police investigation.
Originally, Mandelson was recognized for his work as EU Commissioner for Trade, where he assisted Malta in deepening its European integration and trade agreements. He now joins figures like Muammar Gaddafi and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, both of whom had their Maltese honours revoked during the 2011 Arab Spring.