Marlene Hassan-Nahon

Last updated

The Honorable
Marlene Hassan-Nahon
MP
Member of the Parliament of Gibraltar
In office
9 December 2015 –12 October 2023
Personal details
Born
Marlene Dinah Esther Hassan Bensimon

Gibraltar
Political party Together Gibraltar (October 2018-present)
Other political
affiliations		 Gibraltar Social Democrats (until May 2016)
Independent (May 2016 – October 2018)
SpouseMichael Nahon (divorced)
Children4
Alma mater University of Manchester
Website marlenehassan.wordpress.com

Marlene Dinah Esther Hassan-Nahon (born 1976) is a Gibraltarian historian, journalist and former politician, who served as a member of the Gibraltar Parliament from 2015 until 2023. [1]

Contents

Biography

Hassan-Nahon is daughter of the late Chief Minister Sir Joshua Abraham Hassan and his second wife, Marcelle Bensimon, both Jews of Moroccan and Portuguese origin. Her sister, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, is a barrister and is the current Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem. She has a BA in History of Art and Architecture from the University of Manchester. [2] She also holds a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism.

Political career

After the death of minister Charles Bruzon, Hassan Nahon announced her candidacy for the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) in the by-election of 4 July 2013. In a press conference, she stated that she didn't have an agenda (besides the desire to contribute positively to Gibraltar), and said that she was "disappointed" with the policies of the ruling party (the GSLP) and willing to change the composition of Parliament, where there is an "overwhelming number of lawyers" representing both groups of parties. [3] Hassan Nahon received 39.95% of the total votes cast, but was not elected. [4]

Member of the Parliament of Gibraltar

For the thirteenth election of the Parliament of Gibraltar, Hassan Nahon ran for a seat, resulting in her being elected on 26 November 2015 for the period starting on 9 December 2015 and ending in 2019. On 19 May 2016, she resigned from the Gibraltar Social Democrats, alluding to "toxic" tensions within the party; [5] she decided to continue as a member of the parliament, albeit as an independent. [6]

On 15 September 2016, during a heated exchange of words in Parliament, the Minister of Justice, Gilbert Licudi, swore at Hassan Nahon repeatedly while the microphone was off, but still clearly audible. The Gibraltar Women's Association, represented by the committee member Zohra El Gharbaoui, questioned the lack of attention to this matter by the Gibraltarian government, adding that this was beyond a gender issue, a "complete lack of respect for a fellow MP". [7] On 23 September Licudi issued a public apology to MP Hassan-Nahon. [8]

In 2017 Hassan Nahon launched her movement, Together Gibraltar, a grassroots civil society platform. In November 2018, the movement democratically voted to transition into a political party.

On 24 September 2019, the party entered the Gibraltar General Elections. With TG, Marlene comprised her party to become Gibraltar's 1st and only gender-balanced party candidates in any election (all are party executives). Her colleagues consist of 5 men (Data centre engineer and part-time local rockstar, Daniel Ghio; Electric retail shop [Khubchands] CEO, Kamlesh Khubchand; Social worker, John Montegriffo; Local interior design studio [L. Sacarello] businessman, Craig Sacarello & Banker, Neil Samtani) and 4 other women (Local writer, Jackie Anderson; Regulatory Consultant, Siân Jones [Gibraltar's first transgender candidate]; Financial Manager, Erika Pozo & Former Administrative Executive, Tamsin Suarez. On election day, Marlene won the only seat for TG, unseating GSD's MP and Shadow Minister, Trevor Hammond, after serving only one term. She also was the most voted Opposition Party leader in the elections, overtaking both former & the new and rejoined GSD leaders, Daniel Feetham & Keith Azopardi, respectively.

On 14 June 2023, she announced that she will not stand for the General Elections 2023 and that she will leave politics after such time comes.

Together Gibraltar finished with an unprecedented result at the General Elections, with party leader Hassan Nahon achieving the most votes in the Opposition Benches. Together Gibraltar received 21% of the overall votes, coming only 3% behind the current official Opposition. During her time as an MP, Hassan Nahon was subject of attacks -many anti-Semitic in nature, for being vocal on issues of importance. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Caruana</span> Gibraltarian lawyer & former politician

Sir Peter Richard Caruana, is a Gibraltarian former politician who served as Chief Minister of Gibraltar from 1996 to 2011 and Leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) from 1991 to 2013. He is the longest serving Chief Minister to date.

<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">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">Elections in Gibraltar</span>

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.

<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">Joshua Hassan</span> Gibraltarian politician & 1st and 3rd Chief Minister and 1st Mayor of Gibraltar

Sir Joshua Abraham Hassan, nicknamed "Salvador" (Saviour), was a Gibraltarian politician, and first mayor and Chief Minister of Gibraltar, serving four terms as chief minister for a total of over 20 years. He is seen as the key figure in the civil rights movement in Gibraltar, and played a key role in the creation of the territory's institutions of self-government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Azopardi</span> Gibraltarian politician (born 1967)

Keith Azopardi is a Gibraltarian lawyer and politician serving as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabian Picardo</span> Gibraltarian politician (born 1972)

Fabian Raymond Picardo is a Gibraltarian politician and barrister, serving as Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party since 2011. At the 2015 and 2019 Gibraltar general elections, Picardo was re-elected to two further four-year terms. He was narrowly re-elected for a fourth term in the 2023 Gibraltar general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Licudi</span> Gibraltarian Barrister and former politician

The Hon. Gilbert Horace Licudi is a Gibraltarian barrister and legal partner at Hassans and former Minister (2011-2020) and former MP (2007-2023) of Gibraltar, member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP). He is married and has two children.

Damon James Bossino is a Gibraltarian barrister and Member of the Gibraltar Parliament representing the Gibraltar Social Democrats. He is married to Rosa Arrimadas from Spain with whom he has three children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition (Gibraltar)</span> Party with the second most seats in the Gibraltar Parliament

His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, or the Official Opposition in Gibraltar, is led by the Leader of the Opposition. This is usually the political party with the second largest number of seats in the Gibraltar Parliament, as the largest party will usually form the government. Since the 2011 General Election, the Official Opposition has been the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) led by Peter Caruana (2011–2013), Daniel Feetham (2013- –2017), Roy Clinton as Interim Opposition Leader and now Keith Azopardi.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Isola</span> Gibraltarian barrister and former politician

Albert Joseph Isola is a Gibraltarian barrister and former politician, member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP). He was a member of the Gibraltar House of Assembly as part of the Opposition between 1996 and 2000. He later became a Government Minister for Financial Services and Gaming after becoming elected to Parliament in the 2013 by-election. Isola is married and has four children. On 15 September 2023, it was announced that he and fellow party MPs and Ministers, Paul Balban and Samantha Sacramento, would not stand for re-election.

<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.

An election for the leadership of the Gibraltar Social Democrats was held after the previous leader, Daniel Feetham, resigned.

The Hon. Elliot Phillips, MP is a Gibraltarian barrister and former Member of the Gibraltar Parliament from 2015-2023, representing the Gibraltar Social Democrats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Together Gibraltar</span> Progressive political party in Gibraltar

Together Gibraltar (TG) is a progressive political party in Gibraltar founded on 28 November 2018.

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 narrowly 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Gibraltar abortion referendum</span>

A referendum on partially legalising abortion was held in Gibraltar on 24 June 2021. The referendum question was whether to enact the Crimes (Amendment) Act 2019, which allows abortions up to 12 weeks if the woman's mental or physical health is at risk. It also allows abortion later if the woman's life is at risk, to prevent "grave permanent" mental or physical injury, or if there is a fatal fetal abnormality. It had originally been scheduled for 19 March 2020, but was postponed on 12 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal was approved by 63% of voters.

References

  1. ↑ Composition of Parliament. Gibraltar Parliament
  2. ↑ YGTV, ed. (6 June 2013). "June 06 – GSD Present Marlene Hassan-Nahon As By-Election Candidate" . Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. ↑ GSD, ed. (6 June 2013). "Marlene Hassan Nahon statement: GSD MPs in Town tomorrow leafleting". Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ HM Government of Gibraltar (ed.). "The Result-2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Hassan Nahon resigns from GSD
  6. ↑ May 19 – BREAKING NEWS: GSD’s Marlene Hassan Nahon Resigns
  7. ↑ "GWA lays into Licudi over swearing exchange". Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  8. ↑ LICUDI APOLOGISES
  9. ↑ "Jewish Politician in Gibraltar Targeted With Antisemitic Dual-Loyalty Slur". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
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.