Randolph De Battista

Randolph De Battista (born 1 May 1987) is a Maltese progressive politician and currently serves as a member of the Parliament of Malta and the Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Party.[1][2] He joined the Parliamentary Group following the 2022 General Elections[3] in Malta and represents the 9th Electoral District,[4] having been chosen by Prime Minister Robert Abela to form part of his team. He is the partner of Member of the European Parliament Cyrus Engerer.[5]

The Honourable
Randolph De Battista
Member of the Parliament of Malta
Assumed office
7 May 2022
Personal details
Born (1987-05-01) 1 May 1987
Malta
Political partyLabour Party
Alma materUniversity of Malta

Throughout his career, De Battista worked in the structures of Partit Laburista as the party's Communications Coordinator, as a diplomat at the Maltese Permanent Representation to the European Union in the position of Chef de Cabinet, as well as formed part of Michel Barnier's team in the European Commission's TF50 which led the Brexit negotiations on behalf of the European Union.[1] De Battista was also the founder and editor of TheJournal.Mt[6][7]

Early Life

De Battista obtained a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Malta in 2009, followed by a Diploma of notary Public in 2010 and went on to read for a Doctorate of Laws degree and graduated in 2012[8] with a doctoral thesis entitled "The Introduction of Sperm Donation in Malta: In the light of a Parent's Right to Family Life and the Best Interest of the Child".[9]

During his student days De Battista was a member of social-democrat student organisation Pulse, where he also served as President between 2006 and 2008. During his tenure, Pulse managed to win the elections for the Junior College Council in 2007.[10]

Career

In 2011 he was appointed as Partit Laburista's Communications Coordinator, where he formed part of the communications team of the 2013 General Elections.[11] He then served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Louis Grech, before being nominated as Chef de Cabinet at the Maltese Permanent Representation to the European Union, during the preparations for Malta's first Presidency of the Council of the European Union.[12]

In 2017, De Battista was appointed to work in Michel Barnier's European Commission Task Force 50, in charge of negotiating the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.[1]

In September 2017, Randolph De Battista was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Partit Laburista where he served till 2020. He was reappointed in the role on April 05, 2022. De Battista was also the founder and editor of TheJournal.Mt.[13] He replaced Rosianne Cutajar on the Social Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Malta.[14][15][16]

De Battista is the Head of the Maltese Delegation at the Inter-Parliamentary Union[17]

Political Activism

Randolph De Battista is a progressive politician who has campaigned for the introduction of a number of civil liberties in Malta. He has frequently advocated for Comprehensive Sexuality Education as well as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.[18][19][20]

He was part of the youth Stand Up! campaign for the introduction of divorce legislation in Malta in 2011[21] and has campaigned for equality for the LGBTIQ+ community, including the removal of restrictions for homosexual men from donating blood.[22]

In December 2022, during the landmark Parliamentary debate on the amendments to the Maltese Criminal Code to allow the termination of pregnancy in cases where the woman’s life is in danger or her health in grave jeopardy, De Battista and Rebecca Buttigieg received threats through an anonymous letter addressed to their offices in Parliament[23][24]

References
  1. "Randolph Debattista goes back to CEO role at PL". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. Cordina, Jean Paul (April 5, 2022). "Debattista reappointed Labour CEO, two years being sacked by Abela". Newsbook. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  3. "Rebecca Buttigieg, Randolph Debattista to enter parliament as Labour MPs". Times of Malta. Times of Malta. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. "Electoral Commission of Malta". electoral.gov.mt. The Malta Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  5. "Maltese couple teams up for Malta in Brussels". Malta Daily. December 2, 2023.
  6. "Former Labour CEO brought back to lead its new English-language site". Times of Malta. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  7. Peregin, Chris (May 1, 2021). "'Not A News Portal And Not A Vehicle For Propaganda', Promises Editor Of Labour's New English Website". LovinMalta. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  8. Willinsky, Kamil (Jan 29, 2023). "What Malta and Politics mean to me?". Willinsky Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  9. De Battista, Randolph (2012). "Regulating the introduction of sperm donation in Malta : in the light of a parent's right to family life and the best interest of the child". OAR@UM.
  10. "Pulse marking 10th Anniversary". The Malta Independent. March 17, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  11. "Labour wins by a landslide in Malta". EUobserver. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  12. "Randolph De Battista named new Labour Party CEO". The Malta Independent. September 9, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  13. "Former Labour CEO brought back to lead its new English-language site". Times of Malta. April 30, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  14. "Hon. Randolph De Battista MP". Parlament ta' Malta. May 17, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  15. Sansone, Kurt (17 April 2023). "Government replaces Rosianne Cutajar as chair of parliament's Social Affairs Committee". Maltatoday. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  16. "Rosianne Cutajar replaced as Social Affairs Committee chair". Malta Daily. April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  17. Farrugia, Angelo (March 15, 2023). "146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union" (PDF). Il-Parlament ta' Malta. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  18. Diacono, Tim (November 29, 2022). "'Do You Have No Shame?' – PL MP Rips Into Mental Health Sceptics Of Abortion Bill". LovinMalta.
  19. "SEDUTA PARLAMENTARI 018". May 15, 2022.
  20. Farrugia, Claire (September 27, 2022). "Pro-choice students drop out of youth parliament after names leaked online". Times of Malta.
  21. De Battista, Randolph (May 5, 2011). "StandUP - new movement in favour of divorce formed". Times of Malta.
  22. Cilia, Jonathan (September 2, 2022). "Malta Lifts 'Discriminatory' Ban On Blood Donations For Gay And Bisexual Men To Mark Pride Week". LovinMalta.
  23. Mielak, Nicole (December 19, 2022). "'Whore' and 'freak of nature': MPs receive threatening letters over abortion amendment". MaltaToday. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  24. Cachia, Paula (December 19, 2023). "Ittra ta' theddid kontra żewġ deputati tal-PL". Newsbook.

See also
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