Elections in Gibraltar

Last updated

Gibraltar elects on the national level a legislature. The Gibraltar Parliament has 17 members, all elected for a four-year term in one constituency with each voter getting to vote for their selection of ten candidates. Gibraltar forms a single constituency but voters have only ten votes. Hence the electoral bloc with the most votes will normally get ten seats and the runners up seven.

Contents

Eligibility to vote

People must be qualified to vote and listed on the Register of Electors in order to cast a ballot.

British nationals (this includes all forms of British nationality) who have lived in Gibraltar for a continuous period of six months and who intend to live in Gibraltar either permanently or indefinitely are entitled to register to vote in general elections to the Gibraltar Parliament if they will be aged 18 or over on polling day. [1]

Gibraltar, along with the UK, joined the EEC (the predecessor of the European Union) in 1973, and from 2004 eligible voters in Gibraltar were able to vote in elections to the European Parliament. [2] British, European Union and qualifying Commonwealth citizens (those who had a permit or certificate to enter/remain in Gibraltar, or who did not require such a permit/certificate on the date of their electoral registration application) living in Gibraltar were entitled to register to vote in European Parliament elections if they were aged 18 or over on polling day. [3] [4] In 2020 Gibraltar left the European Union as a result of Brexit. [5]

British nationals and Commonwealth citizens living outside Gibraltar can register as an 'overseas voter' and vote in elections to the European Parliament provided that they were on the Register of Electors in Gibraltar within the past 15 years (the 15 years period begins when they no longer appeared in the Register of Electors, not the date they moved abroad). For British nationals and Commonwealth citizens who moved abroad before they were 18 years old, they can still qualify for registration as an 'overseas elector' in elections to the European Parliament, with the 15 years period calculated from the date their parent(s)/guardian ceased to appear in the Register of Electors in Gibraltar. [6]

Latest elections

General elections to the Gibraltar Parliament (House of Assembly)

Below is a series of results from elections to the Gibraltar Parliament and its predecessor, the House of Assembly (which was created upon the publication of the Gibraltar Constitution 1969). Elections take place roughly every four years, 17 members (15 before 2007) are elected at each election, using partial bloc voting. Each voter has ten votes (eight before 2007) meaning that parties usually stand ten candidates, and the winning party is that which manages to get all their candidates elected.

1969 election

This election took place on 30 July 1969.

AACR - 7 members
IWBP - 5 members
Independents (Isola Group) - 3 members

1972 election

AACR - 52%, 8 members
IWBP - 7 members

1976 election

AACR - 75.3%, 8 members
GDM - 4 seats
Independents - 3 members (Robert Peliza, Maurice Xiberras and Peter Isola)

1980 election

AACR - 8 members
DPBG - 6 members
GSLP - 1 members

1984 election

AACR - 44.4%, 8 members
GSLP - 34.2%, 7 members
DPBG - 18.9%, 0 members
Others - 2.5%, 0 members

1988 election

GSLP - 58.2%, 8 members
AACR - 29.4%, 7 members
Independent Democrats - 12.4%, 0 members

1992 election

GSLP - 73.1%, 8 members
GSD - 20.2%, 7 members
GNP - 4.7%, 0 members
AACR - 2.1%, 0 members

1996 election

GSD - 52.2%, 8 members
GSLP - 43.0%, 7 members
GNP - 4.7%, 0 members
Others - 0.2%

2000 election

GSD - 58.4%, 8 members
GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 40.6%, 7 members
Others - 1.0%, 0 members

2003 election

GSD - 51.5%, 8 members
GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 39.7%, 7 members
GLP - 8.3%

2007 election

GSD - 49.3%, 10 members
GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 45.5%, 7 members
PDP - 3.8%

NGD - 0.78%

2011 election

GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 48.88%, 10 members
GSD - 46.76% - 7 members
PDP - 4.36%

2015 election

GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 68.4%, 10 members
GSD - 31.6% - 7 members

2019 election

GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 52.5%, 10 members
GSD - 25.5% - 6 members
TG - 20.5% - 1 member

2023 election

GSLP/Liberal Alliance - 50.04%, 9 members
GSD - 48.15% - 8 members

Key

UK elections

Unlike other overseas territories, Gibraltar has taken part as a UK counting area in three European elections and one UK-wide referendum as part of the South West England electoral region.

Some people have advocated, including individual MPs, UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and the Gibraltar in Westminster Movement that Gibraltar should be extended the franchise of voting in UK general elections as a Westminster constituency. [7] [8] [9] [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Gibraltar</span>

The politics of Gibraltar takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic British Overseas Territory, whereby the Monarch of the United Kingdom is the constitutional head of state represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the head of Government. As a British Overseas Territory, the Government of Gibraltar is not subordinate to the Government of the United Kingdom. The British Government, however, is responsible for defence and external affairs but Gibraltar has full internal self-government under its 2006 Constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibraltar Social Democrats</span> Political party in Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) is a liberal-conservative, centre-right political party in Gibraltar. The GSD was the governing party for four successive terms in office under the leadership of Peter Caruana, from the 1996 general election until the party's electoral defeat in the 2011 election by the GSLP–Liberal Alliance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberal Party of Gibraltar</span> Political party in Gibraltar

The Liberal Party of Gibraltar is a liberal political party in Gibraltar. It was founded in 1991 as the Gibraltar National Party and is led by Dr. Joseph Garcia. The LPG forms the GSLP–Liberal Alliance in partnership with the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party</span> Social-democratic political party in Gibraltar

The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) is a social-democratic political party in Gibraltar. The GSLP is the oldest surviving active political party in Gibraltar. Its roots are based in the trade union movement, as its founder and former leader Joe Bossano was the District Officer of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU). The party has been led since 2011 by Fabian Picardo, who has served as Chief Minister of Gibraltar since the 2011 general election. The GSLP forms the GSLP–Liberal Alliance in partnership with the Liberal Party of Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Feetham</span> Gibraltarian lawyer and former politician

Daniel Anthony Feetham KC MP is a Gibraltarian lawyer and former politician who served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) from 2013 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Bossano</span> Gibraltarian politician, former Chief Minister (1988–1996), Minister for Economy

Sir Joseph John Bossano is a Gibraltarian politician who served as Chief Minister of Gibraltar from 1988 to 1996 and Leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party from 1978 to 2011. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1984 to 1988 and 1996 to 2011. He was first elected to the then Gibraltar House of Assembly in 1972 and is often referred to as the Father of the House for being the longest-serving parliamentarian in Gibraltar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom</span> Election

The 2004 European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's part of the wider 2004 European Parliament election which was held between 10 and 13 June 2004 in the 25 member states of the European Union. The United Kingdom's part of this election was held on Thursday 10 June 2004. The election also coincided with the 2004 local elections and the London Assembly and mayoral elections. In total, 78 Members of the European Parliament were elected from the United Kingdom using proportional representation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Integration with Britain Party</span> Political party in Gibraltar

The Integration with Britain Party (IWBP) was a political party in Gibraltar. Although it never won an election, it was briefly in power from 1969 to 1972 when Robert Peliza of the IWBP was Chief Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom</span> European Parliament elections in the United Kingdom

The 2009 European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2009 European Parliament election, the voting for which was held on Thursday 4 June 2009. The election was held concurrently with the 2009 local elections in England. In total, 72 Members of the European Parliament were elected from the United Kingdom using proportional representation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Gibraltar general election</span>

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 11 October 2007. The incumbent Chief Minister Peter Caruana narrowly won a fourth term, but opposition leader Joe Bossano had a very strong showing. Joe Bossano noted that this would be his last term as an MP, and joked that he would not join the government, despite receiving a higher personal vote than some members of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD).

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 8 December 2011. Two parties, the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) and the Progressive Democrative Party (PDP) and an alliance of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and the Liberal Party of Gibraltar (LPG) each presented a full slate of ten candidates each, making a total of thirty candidates standing for seventeen seats in the Gibraltar Parliament. Members of Parliament in Gibraltar are elected "at-large" in a single electoral area covering the whole territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom</span> Election

The 2014 European Parliament election was the United Kingdom's component of the 2014 European Parliament election, held on Thursday 22 May 2014, coinciding with the 2014 local elections in England and Northern Ireland. In total, 73 Members of the European Parliament were elected from the United Kingdom using proportional representation. England, Scotland and Wales use a closed-list party list system of PR, while Northern Ireland used the single transferable vote (STV).

The Hon. Paul John Balban is a former Gibraltarian politician, State Registered Dietitian and former taxi driver. He was first elected to the Gibraltar Parliament at the 2011 general elections and was a Gibraltar Government Minister until 12 October 2023, member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP). He is married and has three daughters. On 15 September 2023, he announced that he and fellow party MPs and Ministers, Albert Isola and Samantha Sacramento, would not stand for re-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Gibraltar by-election</span>

A by-election was held to the Gibraltar Parliament on 4 July 2013 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Housing Minister Charles Bruzon in April 2013. The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD), Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and an independent contested the by-election. The Liberal Party of Gibraltar who is in alliance and in Government with the GSLP backed the GSLP's candidate.

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 26 November 2015 to elect all 17 members to the third Gibraltar Parliament. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced the date of the election on Monday 19 October 2015 during a speech on the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 European Parliament election in Gibraltar</span> 2019 election of members of the European parliament in Gibraltar

European Parliament elections were held in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar on 23 May 2019. They were held as part of the European Union-wide elections after the date of United Kingdom withdrawal was delayed by the UK government. This was Gibraltar's final participation in a European Parliament election before the withdrawal took place on 31 January 2020.

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 17 October 2019 to elect all 17 members to the fourth Gibraltar Parliament. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced the date of the election on Monday 16 September 2019. On September 2019, it was announced that Libs MP and GSLP/Libs Minister, Neil Costa, would not seek re-election and had his candidacy and seat replaced by Vijay Daryanani of the same party.

The GSLP–Liberal Alliance is a centre-left political alliance active in Gibraltar consisting of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and Liberal Party of Gibraltar (LPG).

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 12 October 2023 to elect all 17 members of the fifth Gibraltar Parliament. This was the first election in Gibraltar's history to use an electronic voting count system. The GSLP–Liberal Alliance secured a fourth term in office, though it saw its majority reduced to one seat, whilst the GSD became the sole opposition party, gaining two seats.

References

  1. ↑ "HM Government of Gibraltar: Notice 2015 Register of Electors" (PDF).
  2. ↑ Bartlett, Debbie (24 May 2019). "Gibraltar goes to the polls for the EU elections". Sur in English.
  3. ↑ "European Parliament (Representation) Act 2003". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  4. ↑ "European Parliamentary Elections Act 2004" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Guidance to Citizens: No UK-EU Treaty on the Future of Gibraltar" (PDF). HM Government of Gibraltar. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "The European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004". www.legislation.gov.uk.
  7. ↑ "404 Error, UKIP". www.ukip.org.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  8. ↑ "Gibraltar should have its own MP, say Lib Dems". www.gbc.gi.
  9. ↑ Giannangeli, Marco (April 9, 2017). "'Give us our own Westminster MP' Gibraltar pleads to Britain". Express.co.uk.
  10. ↑ "HOME". gibraltar.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.