Cyrus Engerer

Engerer's first involvement in Maltese politics was related to Malta's accession to the European Union. Convinced that membership augmented Malta's opportunities for growth, he joined the Moviment IVA Malta fl-Ewropa and campaigned for Malta's full membership during the accession referendum in 2003.

Engerer joined the conservative Nationalist Party in 2003. His decision was prompted by the party's stand on EU membership which materialised on May 1, 2004.

His highest involvement came in 2009 when he successfully contested the Sliema Local Council elections, placing third among ten candidates. Within the Council he was given the remit on EU Affairs, EU Funding, Youths and Sport.[9] In 2010 Engerer was appointed Deputy Mayor of Sliema.[10]

Engerer frequently criticised the Nationalist Party's conservative positions, especially on issues related to Civil Rights and Liberties, while he also regularly questioned his party's democratic credentials.[11] During the last PN General Council he attended, Engerer went as far as hinting that Nationalist Party was cut off from society's realities.[12]

During the referendum campaign for the introduction of Divorce legislation in Malta in 2011, Engerer joined the Yes Movement Iva Għad-Divorzju, Iva Għaż-Żwieġ and was also the leading spokesperson for the Stand Up campaign.[13]

The long referendum campaign not only brought the progressive voices together but also led the country's conservative forces (including Nationalist Party) to hold a joint campaign against divorce. Notwithstanding the religious pressure that was exerted by the Catholic Church on the Maltese population, which has a huge Catholic majority, the outcome was still a successful one for the Yes campaign winning 52.67% of votes. Despite the electorate's clear vote, Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi stated he would vote ‘no’ in parliament, against the will of the majority.[14] The statement spurred Engerer to declare he would resign from the party's structures, if its leader and Prime Minister did vote against the will of the Maltese. In a statement Engerer declared:

Lawrence Gonzi no longer represents the Maltese population, he has committed political suicide and if he has the country's and the party's interest at heart should resign immediately.

Gonzi ultimately voted against rectifying the Referendum which led Engerer to resign from the Nationalist Party on July 15, 2011 and join the progressive Labour Party led by Joseph Muscat, who had personally campaigned for the introduction of divorce legislation and other civil liberties.[15][16]

Cyrus Engerer addressing the Labour Party's 2013 Annual General Conference which launched the electoral manifesto themed Malta Taghna Lkoll

Engerer joined and became highly involved in the Labour Party. In July 2011, he became a board member of the party's think-tank Fondazzjoni IDEAT and one of its delegates to the party. He also formed part of LGBT Labour.[4] Within the party, Engerer also spearheaded the fight for Civil Rights. His involvement was particularly prominent in the 2013 Labour Party campaign for the General Elections, where he worked hard to encourage former Nationalist voters to vote Labour. Labour won with a 54.83% majority.[17]

Following her appointment as Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, Helena Dalli appointed Engerer as Chairperson of the Consultative Council for LGBT rights, with the initial task being to provide government with a Bill on Civil Unions as well as a Gender Identity Act.[18] The Civil Union Act was presented to the Minister at the end of June while the Gender Identity Act was presented at the beginning of August 2013. Both laws are expected to pass through all stages of parliament by the end of 2013.

On 8 June 2013, Engerer announced that he would be contesting the 2014 MEP Elections.[19] He submitted his nomination to Labour Party for the elections on 5 August 2013, being nominated by Minister Evarist Bartolo, Minister Helena Dalli, Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg, Member of Parliament Deborah Schembri and Gozo Labour Party spokesperson Ġuża Cassar.[20] Along with seven others, he was approved as a candidate by the party, on 21 August 2013.

Engerer's campaign was launched in Valletta on 27 October 2013. Engerer believed that a Member of the European Parliament should always seek his country's national interest first and foremost and hence, his campaign was called Malta l-Ewwel (Malta First).[21] Eventually, Engerer did not contest the elections.

However, when it became clear that Miriam Dalli would resign from her seat in the European Parliament, Cyrerer announced that he would contest the upcoming casual election for Dalli’s seat, which he eventually won.ref>"Cyrus Engerer MEP". European Parliament. Retrieved 13 November 2020.</ref>

In the week following his switch to Labour Party, Engerer and members of his family were faced with multiple charges opened against them by the Police of Malta. Such charges included circulating pornographic pictures of his former boyfriend. Although government denied that any of the charges were politically motivated,[22] a number of opinion-makers frowned upon this version and alleged that this was pure character-assassination of an opponent of the governing party.[23][24] This version of events relied on the fact that internal Police and Court of Justice documents were leaked to the media before Engerer himself was informed of the charges by the Police. An internal Police inquiry later confirmed that the timing of the initiation of court proceedings was politically motivated.[25]

On 31 May 2013, the Court of Justice presided by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli acquitted Engerer from all charges.[26] However, he was sentenced to a two-year jail term suspended for two years on 8 May 2014. The decision was handed down by Mr Justice Michael Mallia in a 17-page appeals court judgment.

The following day, Engerer announced that he had backed out of the European Parliament Elections 2014 citing that he did not want any bad light cast on the Labour Party or on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.