Next Gibraltar general election

Last updated

Next Gibraltar general election
Flag of Gibraltar.svg
  2023 By 8 March 2028

All 17 seats in the Gibraltar Parliament
9 seats needed for a majority
  3x4.svg Keith Azopardi 2011 4x3 cropped.jpg NCalamaro Portrait.jpg
LeaderTBD Keith Azopardi Nicky Calamaro
Party Alliance Social Democrats Together Gibraltar
Last election50.04%, 9 seats [1] 48.15%, 8 seats [1] Did not contest
Seats neededSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 9

Incumbent Chief Minister

Fabian Picardo
Socialist Labour



General elections will be held in Gibraltar by 8 March 2028 to elect all 17 members to the sixth Gibraltar Parliament.

Contents

Background

Before the 2023 elections, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced that if elected, his fourth term as Chief Minister would be his last, and suggested Gemma Arias-Vasquez (New Minister for Health, Care & Business) to be his successor as leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party, if elected by the party, thus would become Gibraltar's first female Chief Minister and MP who takes the role without being a party leader, if decided in the general election. Nigel Feeham, the new Minister for Justice, Trade & Industry, has also expressed interest in succeeding Picardo as party leader on social media. [2]

However, on the 5th November, Fabian Picardo reciprocated his retirement plan as GSLP Leader by announcing on GBC that he will be re-standing for the next elections with his original position intact, subject to his party membership's confidence on him in an uncontested AGM. This resulted in Nigel Feetham to rescind for contesting for leadership in the AGM.

Electoral system

Under section 38(2) of the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006, the parliament must be dissolved four years after its first meeting following the last election (unless the Chief Minister advises the Governor of Gibraltar to dissolve parliament sooner). Under section 37 of the Constitution, writs for a general election must be issued within thirty days of the dissolution and the general election must then be held no later than three months after the issuing of a writ. [3]

With the first meeting of the current parliament taking place on 10 November 2023, parliament must be dissolved before midnight on 9 November 2027, writs must be issued by 9 December 2027 and an election must take place before 8 March 2028. However, if recent precedent is followed, the Chief Minister is likely to ask the Governor for an early dissolution and an election to take place sometime in October 2027 (four years after the last election). Following the British tradition, elections conventionally take place on a Thursday.

Incumbent members (from 2023)

MPPartyParliament role(s)Seeking re-election?
Joseph Garcia (since 1999) GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)Deputy Chief Minister (since 2011)
Fabian Picardo (since 2003) GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Chief Minister (since 2011)Yes
Keith Azopardi (1996-2003; since 2019) GSD Leader of Opposition (since 2017)
Damon Bossino (2011-2015; since 2019) GSD Shadow Minister for Housing, Lands & Transport
Nigel Feetham GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Justice, Trade & Industry
Gemma Arias-Vasquez GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Health, Care & Business
John Cortes (since 2011) GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change & Education
Roy Clinton (since 2015) GSD Shadow Minister for Finance & Value for Money (since 2015)
Craig Sacarello GSD Shadow Minister for Business, Trade, Industry, Utilities & Community
Christian Santos GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture & Tourism
Patricia Orfila GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Housing
Edwin Reyes (since 2007) GSD Shadow Minister for Education, Employment & Culture
Joelle Ladislaus GSD Shadow Minister for Health & Justice
Leslie Bruzon GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)Minister for Industrial Relations, Civil Contingencies & Sport
Joseph Bossano (since 1972) GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) (since 1980)Minister for Economic Development, Enterprise, Telecommunications & the Gibraltar Savings Bank
Giovanni Origo GSD Shadow Minister for Environment, Tourism, Youth & Equality
Atrish Sanchez GSD Shadow Minister for Care & Opportunity

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References

  1. 1 2 "2023 election results". Gibraltar Parliament. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  2. "Picardo says October 12 is his last election, tipping Gemma Arias Vasquez as next GSLP leader". Gibraltar Chronicle. 27 September 2023.
  3. "Official text of the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006" (PDF). Gibraltar Laws. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2015.