Political career Cyrus Engerer

1 political career

1.1 eu accession referendum
1.2 nationalist party
1.3 divorce referendum
1.4 labour party
1.5 criminal conviction

political career

in highly polarised society, cyrus engerer raised in politically mixed environment father being traditional nationalist supporter sliema, while mother valletta activist in labour party, family being ardent mintoff supporters.

eu accession referendum

cyrus engerer s first involvement in maltese politics related malta s accession european union. convinced membership augmented malta s opportunities growth, joined moviment iva malta fl-ewropa , campaigned malta s full membership during accession referendum in 2003.

nationalist party


raphael vassallo, maltatoday.

cyrus engerer joined conservative nationalist party in 2003. decision prompted party’s stand on eu membership materialised on may 1, 2004.

his highest involvement came in 2009 when contested sliema local council elections, placing third among ten candidates. within council given remit on eu affairs, eu funding, youths , sport. in 2010 engerer appointed deputy mayor of sliema.

cyrus engerer criticised nationalist party s conservative positions, on issues related civil rights , liberties, while regularly questioned party s democratic credentials. during last pn general council attended, engerer went far hinting nationalist party cut off society s realities.

divorce referendum

during referendum campaign introduction of divorce legislation in malta in 2011, cyrus engerer joined yes movement iva għad-divorzju, iva għaż-Żwieġ , leading spokesperson stand campaign.

the long referendum campaign did not bring progressive voices led country’s conservative forces (including nationalist party) hold joint campaign against divorce. notwithstanding religious pressure exerted catholic church on maltese population has huge catholic majority, outcome still successful 1 yes campaign winning 52.67% of votes. despite electorate’s clear vote, prime minister dr. lawrence gonzi stated vote ‘no’ in parliament, against of majority. statement spurred engerer declare resign party’s structures, if leader , prime minister did vote against of maltese. in statement cyrus engerer declared:

prime minister lawrence gonzi voted against rectifying referendum led engerer resign nationalist party on july 15, 2011 , join progressive labour party led dr. joseph muscat had campaigned introduction of divorce legislation , other civil liberties.

labour party

cyrus engerer addressing labour party s 2013 annual general conference launched electoral manifesto themed malta taghna lkoll

cyrus engerer joined , became highly involved in labour party. in july 2011, became board member of party’s think-tank fondazzjoni ideat , 1 of delegates party. formed part of lgbt labour. within party, engerer spearheaded fight civil rights. involvement particularly prominent in 2013 labour party campaign general elections, worked hard encourage former nationalist voters vote labour. labour won 54.83% majority.

following appointment minister social dialogue, consumer affairs , civil liberties, dr. helena dalli appointed cyrus engerer chairperson of consultative council lgbt rights, initial task being provide government bill on civil unions gender identity act. civil union act presented minister @ end of june while gender identity act presented @ beginning of august 2013. both laws expected pass through stages of parliament end of 2013.

on 8 june 2013, cyrus engerer announced contesting 2014 mep elections. submitted nomination labour party elections on 5 august 2013, being nominated minister evarist bartolo, minister helena dalli, parliamentary secretary ian borg, member of parliament deborah schembri , gozo labour party spokesperson Ġuża cassar. along 7 others, approved candidate party, on 21 august 2013.

engerer s campaign launched in valletta on 27 october 2013. engerer believed member of european parliament should seek country s national interest first , foremost , hence, campaign called malta l-ewwel (malta first). eventually, engerer did not contest elections.

criminal conviction

in week following switch labour party, cyrus engerer , members of family faced multiple charges opened against them police of malta. such charges included circulating pornographic pictures of former boyfriend. although government denied of charges politically motivated, number of opinion-makers frowned upon version , alleged pure character-assassination of opponent of governing party. version of events relied on fact internal police , court of justice documents leaked media before engerer himself informed of charges police. internal police inquiry later confirmed timing of initiation of court proceedings politically motivated charges pre-dated engerer s political switch.

on 31 may 2013, court of justice presided magistrate audrey demicoli acquitted cyrus engerer charges. however, sentenced two-year jail term suspended 2 years on 8 may 2014. decision handed down mr justice michael mallia in 17-page appeals court judgment.

the following day, engerer announced had backed out of european parliament elections 2014 citing did not want bad light cast on labour party or prime minister dr. joseph muscat.