Labour MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer.

Labour MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer, who openly declares his “absolute dislike” for hunting, is fending off criticism that his decision to gather signatures for a pro-hunting petition is a vote-catching exercise.

Mr Engerer, an active gay rights campaigner, yesterday presented more than 1,600 signatures to the hunting federation, which is petitioning against a proposed referendum to abolish spring hunting.

Eyebrows were raised when the hunting federation had argued even the LGBT minority would benefit from its petition because minority rights would be safeguarded.

Contacted yesterday by Times of Malta, Mr Engerer echoed this argument, insisting the issue was not about hunting while denying claims of chasing votes.

“I am not a hunter and would not imagine being one because I absolutely dislike this activity. However, as an MEP, I would be in a position to ensure that all Maltese people enjoy the same rights,” he said.

According to Mr Engerer, some of those who approached him to sign the petition “hate hunting” but felt compelled to give their support as they deemed the arguments of the hunting lobby to be valid and perfectly legitimate.

Probed whether he was pushing the issue too far by equating hunting with gay rights, Mr Engerer said he was acting in line with the Labour manifesto, which pledged to place hunters and trappers on the same footing of those in other EU member states.

In a statement, the hunters’ federation said thousands of signatures were collected but gave no specific number. It said the petition enjoyed the support of various minority associations and groups within society.

The petition was launched in December, with the hunting federation arguing that the interests, rights and privileges of minority groups should not be subjected to a vote through an abrogative referendum.

Their initiative followed a campaign by the Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting, which compiled more than 33,000 signature to force a referendum on the issue.