Cyrus Engerer

Cyrus Engerer is a Maltese politician, known for his public stands on Civil Rights and Malta's National Identity. He is the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the European Union and also a candidate for the 2019 European Parliament Election on behalf of the Labour Party.

After successfully graduating from his first degree, Engerer was awarded a scholarship and obtained a Masters in European Politics from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium with his dissertation ‘Malta Europeanised: Political Parties and Electoral Campaigns’.

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. 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:

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.

Engerer's area of expertise is EU Funding, where he has acted as an EU-Funds advisor to various Ministries, Local Councils and NGOs. Following his graduation Engerer commenced his professional career as a Projects Manager on EU-funded projects at the Planning and Priorities Coordination Division within the Office of the Prime Minister. He later joined the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) as EU Policy Information Advisor and Media Coordinator. In 2013, Engerer joined the Private Secretariat of the Parliamentary Secretary for the 2017 EU Presidency and EU Funding, Dr. Ian Borg. In 2014, he was appointed as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy to the European Union.

Following her appointment as Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, Dr. 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. 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. 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. 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). Eventually, Engerer did not contest the elections.

On 31 May 2013, the Court of Justice presided by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli acquitted Engerer from all charges. 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.

Engerer wrote a biography of the Labour Party leader, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The book, called Joseph, Malta li Rrid Ngħix Fiha, was published on 22 January 2013. It sold more than 10,000 copies in eight weeks and was well received by critics.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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. In 2010 Engerer was appointed Deputy Mayor of Sliema.

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.

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.