Lino Spiteri’s talking point article, ‘Dirty politics becomes dirtier’, (Times of Malta, May 12) is so misplaced that it beggars belief. In the Cyrus Engerer homophobic act, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat chooses wrong over right, and the former Labour minister condones that and accuses the Nationalist Party of ‘dirty politics’.
Engerer is the aggressor, not the victim, and what he did to his former partner is disturbing and homophobic.
The former labour party candidate and PL stalwart was found guilty of distributing pornographic photos of his ex-boyfriend in an attempt to discredit him.
In the appeal judgment, Mr Justice Michael Mallia noted that Engerer had threatened the victim, asking him to drop the court case to avoid more compromising and embarrassing things being revealed.
Yes, to err is human but to persist in error is diabolical – and Muscat erred twice: first, when he accepted Engerer within his fold – despite being aware of criminal proceedings against him, and now he bends over backwards to defend his former MEP candidate and author of his biography.
Engerer’s position in the Nationalist Party became untenable once criminal procedures against him surfaced. The Prime Minister is now reaping what he sowed: his backroom deal with a convicted person backfired.
This is not positive energy but shocking behaviour. Equally shocking is Spiteri’s attempt at defending Muscat and Engerer, and finding fault with the Nationalist Party.
Spiteri unashamedly does not condemn Muscat and the Labour Party’s baseless accusations that the Engerer case was politically motivated. It was the victim himself, Engerer’s former boyfriend, who filed a police report against Mr Engerer. The Magistrate’s Court, oblivious, of course, to any political implication, found Engerer not guilty.
The Attorney General, needless to say oblivious to any political implications, appealed, under a Labour administration, against the decision of the Magistrates’ Court, and at an appeal stage Mr Justice Mallia found Engerer guilty and sentenced him to a two-year suspended sentence.
The Prime Minister echoed Engerer’s ridiculous but equally shocking allegation that he was the victim of ‘political persecution’, implying that both the AG and Mr Justice Mallia were politically motivated. Spiteri does not condemn this; instead, he defends Engerer, the Prime Minister and blames the Nationalist Party. Unbelievable!
Muscat turnedan aggressor intoa victim. Spiteri turned truthon its head
The Nationalist Party and its leader Simon Busuttil have called for the removal of Engerer as a government consultant in the Home Affairs and Civil Liberties ministries, as well as chairman of the LGBT Consultative Council.
Engerer’s criminal, homophobic act is in clear conflict with the aims of this council: to work and legislate against homophobic acts and discrimination. Spiteri, apparently, objects to this too, because according to him this is ‘dirty politics’ by the Nationalist Party.
The country’s moral compass needs better calibration – and the Prime Minister’s shameful behaviour in defending Engerer is definitely not a step in this direction; nor is Spiteri’s article. Viciousness and vengefulness are being condoned by the Prime Minister and the Labour Party, and Spiteri has unashamedly rushed to their aid.
Spiteri either did not check his facts – which I doubt, or else he is adamant on defending the indefensible; which is, unfortunately, more likely. Through his misplaced article and irrational arguments, the former Labour minister turned columnist is condoning dirty politics.
Muscat turned an aggressor, a criminal, into a victim and a hero. Spiteri turned truth on its head. This is not the kind of politics young people want.
Spiteri should be doing what is morally right – taking the Prime Minister to task, as Busuttil, the Nationalist Party and the absolute majority of the independent media and columnists did, over his shocking behaviour, instead of rushing to his aide.
Spiteri’s attempt at defending the indefensible failed miserably.
Antoine Borg is a Nationalist MP.