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2023 Gibraltar general election

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox election

| country = Gibraltar

| type = Parliamentary

| previous_election = 2019 Gibraltar general election

| previous_year = 2019

| next_election = Next Gibraltar general election

| next_year = Next

| seats_for_election = All 17 seats in the Gibraltar Parliament

| majority_seats = 9

| election_date = 12 October 2023

| turnout = 76.40% ({{increase}}5.56pp)

| image1 = Fabian Picardo 2018 4x3 cropped.jpg

| leader1 = Fabian Picardo (GSLP)

| party1 = GSLP–Liberal Alliance

| last_election1 = {{nowrap|52.50%, 10 seats{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gi/images/general_election_2019/general_elections_results_2019.pdf|title=2019 election results|last1=|first1=|last2=|first2=|date=2019-10-17|website=|publisher=Gibraltar Parliament|access-date=2019-10-18|df=dmy-all}}}}

| seats1 = 9

| seat_change1 = {{decrease}}1

| popular_vote1 = 89,941

| percentage1 = 50.04%

| swing1 = {{decrease}}2.46pp

| image2 = Keith Azopardi 2011 4x3 cropped.jpg

| leader2 = Keith Azopardi

| party2 = Gibraltar Social Democrats

| last_election2 = {{nowrap|25.55%, 6 seats}}

| seats2 = 8

| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 2

| popular_vote2 = 86,537

| percentage2 = 48.15%

| swing2 = {{increase}}22.6pp

| title = Chief Minister

| before_election = Fabian Picardo

| after_election = Fabian Picardo

| before_party = Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party

| after_party = Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party

}}

General elections were held in Gibraltar on 12 October 2023 to elect all 17 members of the fifth Gibraltar Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.gbc.gi/news/general-election-called-october|title=General Election called for 12th October|website=GBC|date=12 September 2023}} 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 (one by unseating the Alliance's Minister of Business and Tourism Vijay Daryanani and taking one from the non-contesting party, Together Gibraltar, which had been held by Marlene Hassan-Nahon).

Background

On 24 August 2020 it was announced that Government MP and Minister, Gilbert Licudi, would resign as Minister but remain as MP backbencher. Later, on 17 July 2023, he announced he would step down for re-election.

On 14 June 2023 it was announced that Together Gibraltar founder and leader and her party's sole MP, Marlene Hassan-Nahon (daughter of Gibraltar's first Mayor and Chief Minister, Joshua Hassan), would not stand for the elections and would leave politics by then.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Marlene Hassan Nahon will not contest the next general election |url=https://www.gbc.gi/news/marlene-hassan-nahon-will-not-contest-next-general-election |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=www.gbc.gi |language=en}}

On 5 September 2023 ongoing negotiations between Together Gibraltar and the GSD to form an electoral pact were finally abandoned.{{Cite web |last=Reyes |first=Brian |date=2023-09-05 |title=TG to present slate at election after GSD rules out alliance |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/tg-to-present-slate-at-election-after-gsd-rules-out-alliance/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Gibraltar Chronicle |language=en}}

On 13 September 2023 it was announced that GSD MP, Elliott Phillips, would not stand for re-election and that Robert Vazquez will return as an independent MP candidate. On 15 September 2023 it was announced that Paul Balban, Albert Isola and Samantha Sacramento, GSLP/Libs Government MPs and Ministers, would not stand for re-election.

On 16 September it was announced that GSD MP, Daniel Feetham, would not stand for re-election.

On 17 September the GSLP have announced their new four candidates for the elections: Hassans' Legal Partner and Head of Financial Services, Nigel Feetham KC (brother of outgoing GSD MP, Daniel Feetham and son of former GSLP MP and Minister from 1988 to 1996, Michael Feetham); former teacher and Miss Gibraltar 1974, Patricia Orfila; Director of the Gibraltar Academy of Music and Performing Arts (GAMPA) and former Mayor of Gibraltar, Christian Santos and Hassans' Legal Partner and Solicitor, Gemma Arias-Vasquez.

On 18 September it was announced that Together Gibraltar would not contest the election. Interim Leader, Nicky Calamaro, said it was because of lack of support from the voters since Marlene's departure, resulting on TG to restart itself as a pressure group to regain trust of the people, but he didn't rule out the possibility of being an independent candidate. [https://www.gbc.gi/news/together-gibraltar-will-not-contest-general-election GBC News. Together Gibraltar will not contest general election.] Retrieved 18 September 2023.

On that same night the GSD announced their 6 new candidates with 3x women (TSN's Senior Law Associate and Barrister and GSD's executive member and 2019 election candidate Joelle Ladislaus; RGP's ((Royal Gibraltar Police)) Senior Compliance Officer, Head of Special Needs Action Group ((SNAG)) and GSD executive, Atrish Sanchez and inaugural former Vice-Chancellor and CEO of University of Gibraltar, Daniella Tilbury); 1x Moroccan born-Gibraltarian Muslim male and GSD executive and Future member (Youseff El Hana); GSD executive (Formerly Together Gibraltar executive member) and candidate of TG in 2019 (Craig Sacarello) and chairman of GSD Future and Isolas' Law Associate, Giovanni Origo.

On 19 September, it was announced that Liberal Party of Gibraltar MP and Minister, Steven Linares, would not stand for re-election, after 23 years of being an MP, and would be replaced by GHA's (Gibraltar Health Authority) Emergency Medical Technician, Leslie Bruzon of the same party.

On 14 September both businessman Allan Asquez and retired teacher Patricia Orfila put their names forward for GSLP executives to consider them as candidates. Allan said he had been motivated by issues including social housing and secure employment, especially for people with learning difficulties. However, on 17 September, shortly before the candidate selection process, he announced that he had withdrawn his application and left the party. Speaking on the 'Gibraltar Today' section on GBC's Radio Gibraltar, he alleged that he did what he did because the party's leader and Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, had allegedly conveyed to him that he did not want Allan to be selected and told the executive members not to vote for him, arguing that it broke the democratic process selection. He also alleged that if the executive members voted for him, Fabian Picardo would step down as party leader and/or Chief Minister. He also allegedly stated that he was threatened by Picardo that he would seek him as a backbencher rather than a minister if elected into Government.

On 21 September GSD candidate Youssef El Hana apologised, on GBC's Viewpoint, to Gibraltar's Jewish community for 'offensive language' used on social media from 2018, regarding national and religious conflicts between Palestine and Israel. Reacting to his apology, the Chair of the Charity, Learning from Auschwitz Gibraltar, Naomi Hassan-Weisfogel, said that he marched in the UK calling for the destruction of Israel in support of Palestine and that he had made these offensive posts for months, for which the march, Youseff denies.[https://www.gbc.gi/news/gsd-election-candidate-youssef-el-hana-apologises-gibraltars-jewish-community-offensive-language-lea GSD election candidate Youssef El Hana apologises to Gibraltar’s Jewish community for 'offensive language' - Learning from Auschwitz Chair calls his position dangerous & extreme], Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation, 21 September 2023

On 5 November 2024 Paul Balban revealed to GBC's City Pulse that he originally suggested to himself that he should contest the elections as an Independent candidate, in order to gauge his environmental policies, which had faced public backlash at the time he served his last term as Transport Minister.

Timing and procedure

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/constitution/Gibraltar_Constitution_Order_2006.pdf#page=33 |title=Official text of the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 |author= |date=14 December 2006 |publisher=gibraltarlaws.gov.gi |accessdate=2015-12-18 |format=PDF |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115055815/http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/constitution/Gibraltar_Constitution_Order_2006.pdf#page=33 |archive-date=15 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}

On 12 September 2023 Chief Minister Fabian Picardo formally asked Governor Sir David Steel to dissolve parliament and an election to take place on 12 October 2023.{{cite news |last1=Peralta |first1=Gabriella |title=Picardo puts Brexit centre stage as Gibraltar heads to polls on October 12 after 'toughest four years' |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/picardo-calls-election-for-october-12/ |access-date=20 September 2023 |publisher=Gibraltar Chronicle |date=12 September 2023 |language=en}}

Opinion polls

Note: This was Panaroma's last opinion polling article before they dissolved in April 2024.

File:GibraltarPollsGraph.png

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%;line-height:16px"

!rowspan="2" style="width:120px;"|Release date

!rowspan="2"|Publisher(s)

!rowspan="2" style="width:50px;" class="unsortable"|Sample size

!style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|GSLP/Libs

!style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|GSD

!style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|TG

!style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|Ind.

!rowspan="2" style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|Split
vote

!rowspan="2" style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|Blank/
not used

!rowspan="2" style="width:35px;"class="unsortable"|Don't know/
undecided

!rowspan="2" style="width:35px;" class="unsortable"|Lead

!rowspan="2" class="unsortable"|Source

class="unsortable" style="background:{{party color|GSLP–Liberal Alliance}}; width:30px"|

!class="unsortable" style="background:{{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}; width:30px"|

!class="unsortable" style="background:{{party color|Together Gibraltar}}; width:30px"|

!class="unsortable" style="background:{{party color|Independent}}; width:30px"|

12 October 2023

|GBC Exit Poll

|1,403

|48.8%

8

|style="background:#b6cee2";"|49.6%

9

|–

|1.6%

|–

|–

|–

|style="background:#b6cee2";"|0.8%

|{{Cite web |last=Peralta |first=Gabriella |date=2023-10-12 |title=GBC exit poll tips thin 0.8% lead for GSD |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/gbc-exit-poll-tips-thin-0-8-lead-for-gsd/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Gibraltar Chronicle |language=en}}

10 October 2023{{efn|name=C|No exact number of votes or sample size were mentioned in this particular poll or respective article. In this poll, the following candidates would not be elected (in the following order from higher to lower rankings): Giovanni Origo (GSD), Youssef El Hana (GSD), Vijay Daryanani (GSLP/Liberals), & Robert Vasquez (Independent)}}

|Panorama

|–

| style="background:#FF0000" ;" |49.2%
9

|48.7%
8

|–

|2.1%

|–

|–

|–

| style="background:#FF0000" ;" |0.5%

|{{Cite web|url=https://infogibraltar.com/avisos/las-elecciones-estan-demasiado-renidas-para-una-prediccion-exacta-el-sondeo-da-una-ajustada-victoria-a-los-gslp-liberales-a056/|title=Las elecciones están demasiado reñidas para una predicción exacta: el sondeo da una ajustada victoria a los GSLP/Liberales – A056|date=10 October 2023 |language=spanish|access-date=10 October 2023}}

9 October 2023{{efn|name=B|In these polls published by the joint GBC/Chronicle, the following candidates would not be elected: Joe Bossano (GSLP/Liberals), Vijay Daryanani (GSLP/Liberals), Youssef El Hana (GSD), & Robert Vasquez (Independent).}}

|GBC/Chronicle

|600

| style="background:#FF0000" ;" |49.9%
8

|48.3%
9

|–

|1.8%

|–

|9%

|–

| style="background:#FF0000" ;" |1.6%

|{{Cite web|url=https://www.gbc.gi/news/latest-poll-gslp-liberals-win-votes-fail-make-government|title=Latest poll: GSLP-Liberals to win on votes but fail to make it to government|access-date=10 October 2023}}

5 October 2023{{efn|name=C}}

|GBC/Chronicle

|600

|48.65
8

| style="background:#b6cee2" ;" |49.18%
9

|–

|2.17%

|–

|18%{{efn|name=C}}

|–

| style="background:#b6cee2" ;" |0.53%

|{{Cite web|url=https://www.gbc.gi/news/new-poll-suggests-gsd-will-win-election-narrowest-margins-and-would-govern-nine-mps-not-10|title=Latest poll: GSD to win election with knife-edge margin of 0.5% and would govern with nine MPs not 10|access-date=10 October 2023}}

17 September 2023{{efn|Poll published prior to the official declaration of competing candidates}}

|GBC

|1,100

|21.64%

|style="background:#b6cee2";"|23.72%

|2.98%

|–

|12.26%

|8.03%

|31.38%

|style="background:#b6cee2";"|2.08%

|[https://www.gbc.gi/news/gbc-election-poll-narrow-lead-gsd-over-gslp-liberals GBC News. GBC Election Poll: Narrow lead for GSD but huge undecided vote holds balance of power.] Retrieved 10 October 2023.

{{notelist}}

In the initial opinion poll by GBC (released on 17 September 2023), the issues likely to influence votes are reported as the following:

  • Cost of Living (47.79%),
  • Health Care (45%),
  • EU Treaty (33.63%),
  • Economy (32.91%),
  • Housing (31.2%),
  • Cleanliness (24.17%),
  • Public Services (19.3%),
  • Family Life (17.58%),
  • Climate Change (17.13%),
  • Crime (15.06%),
  • Foreign Policy (14.79%),
  • Transport (12.62%),
  • McGrail Inquiry (12.26%),
  • Development (10.64%),
  • Diversity & Inclusion (4.24%)

Incumbent members (from 2019)

class=wikitable

!colspan=2|Candidate

!Party

!Parliamentary role(s)

!Seeking re-election?

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Fabian Picardo (since 2003)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Chief Minister (since December 2011)
Leader of GSLP (since April 2011)

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}" |

|Joseph Garcia (since 1999){{efn|Elected in 1999 by-election after the death of elected GSLP MP and Shadow Minister & former Mayor of Gibraltar, Robert Mor}}

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)

|Deputy Chief Minister (since 2011)
Leader of LPG (since 1992)

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|John Cortes (since 2011)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Albert Isola (since 2013){{efn|Elected in 2013 by-election after the death of elected MP and Minister for Housing and the Elderly, Charles Bruzon.}}

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Minister for Digital and Financial Services

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Joseph Bossano (since 1972)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) (since 1980)

|Minister for Economic Development, Enterprise, Telecommunications and the Gibraltar Savings Bank
Founder & previous leader of GSLP (1980–2011)

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Gilbert Licudi (since 2007)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Minister for Education, Employment, Utilities and the Port
Backbencher

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}" |

|Steven Linares (since 2000)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)

|Minister for Housing, Youth and Sport

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Paul Balban (since 2011)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Minister for Health and Care

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSLP}}" |

|Samantha Sacramento (since 2011)

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)

|Minister for Justice, Multiculturalism, Equality and Community Affairs

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}" |

|Vijay Daryanani

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)

|Minister for Business, Tourism and Transport

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|TG}}" |

|Marlene Hassan-Nahon (since 2015)

|Together Gibraltar (since 2019)

|Opposition MP for Together Gibraltar
Founder and former leader of TG (2017–June 2023)

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

| Damon Bossino (2011–2015; since 2019)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Shadow Minister

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

|Daniel Feetham (since 2007)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Shadow Minister
Previous Leader of GSD and Opposition (2011–2017)

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

| Keith Azopardi (1996–2003; since 2019)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Leader of the Opposition (since 2017)
Leader of GSD (since 2017)

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

|Roy Clinton (since 2015)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Deputy Leader of the Opposition & Shadow Minister
Former Interim Leader of GSD and Opposition (2017)

|Yes

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

|Elliott Phillips (since 2015)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Shadow Minister

|No

style="background-color: {{party color|GSD}}" |

|Edwin Reyes (since 2007)

|Gibraltar Social Democrats

|Shadow Minister

|Yes

colspan=3|Source: [https://www.parliament.gi/images/general_election_2019/general_elections_results_2019.pdf Parliament of Gibraltar]

Parties and candidates

class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
style="text-align:left;" colspan="2"| Party or alliance

!Ideology

!Current Seats

! Slogan

! Election Logo

bgcolor="{{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}" |

| GSLP/Libs Alliance

|Social Democracy, Social Liberalism

|10

| "Keep Gibraltar Safe"

| 200px

bgcolor="{{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}" |

| GSD

|Liberal Conservatism, British Unionism

|6

| "Make The Change For A Bright Future"

| 200px

bgcolor="{{party color|Independent}}" |

| Robert Vasquez

|Social Democracy

|N/A

| "Vote Vasquez Get FACTS (Fairness, Accountability, Community, Transparency, Stability)"

| 200px

Results

{{Election results

|image=File:Gibraltar Parlement 2023.svg

|alliance1=Alliance|aspan1=3|party1=Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party|votes1=63700|seats1=7|sc1=0

|party2=Liberal Party of Gibraltar|votes2=26241|seats2=2|sc2=–1

|atotal3=89941|aseats3=9|sc3=–1

|alliance4=Gibraltar Social Democrats|votes4=86537|seats4=8|sc4=+2

|alliance5=Ind. Robert Vasquez |votes5=3262|seats5=0|sc5=0

|total_sc=0

|valid=18784

|invalid=472

|electorate=25200

|source=[https://www.parliament.gi/election/live/ Parliament], [https://www.chronicle.gi/chronicle-gbc-poll-gives-gsd-wafer-thin-edge-in-tightest-of-contests/ Chronicle]

}}

=By candidate=

class="wikitable sortable"

!colspan=2|Candidate

!Party

!Alliance

!Votes

!Notes

bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}|

|Joseph Garcia

|LPG

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|9,852

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Fabian Picardo

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|9,844

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Keith Azopardi

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|9,607

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Damon Bossino

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|9,602

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Nigel Feetham

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|9,298

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Gemma Arias-Vasquez

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|9,280

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|John Cortes

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|9,256

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Roy Clinton

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|9,250

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Craig Sacarello

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|9,068

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Christian Santos

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|8,947

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Patricia Orfila

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|8,729

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Edwin Reyes

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|8,680

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Joelle Ladislaus

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|8,601

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}|

|Leslie Bruzon

|LPG

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|8,457

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party}}|

|Joseph Bossano

|GSLP

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|8,346

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Giovanni Origo

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|8,314

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Atrish Sanchez

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|8,258

|Elected

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Daniella Tilbury

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|8,074

|

bgcolor={{party color|Liberal Party of Gibraltar}}|

|Vijay Daryanani

|LPG

|GSLP–Liberal Alliance

|align=right|7,932

|Unseated

bgcolor={{party color|Gibraltar Social Democrats}}|

|Youseff El Hana

|GSD

|align=center

align=right|7,083

|

bgcolor={{party color|Independent politician}}|

|Robert Vasquez

|Independent

|align=center

align=right|3,262

|

class=sortbottom

|colspan=6|Source: [https://www.parliament.gi/election/live/ Parliament], [https://www.chronicle.gi/chronicle-gbc-poll-gives-gsd-wafer-thin-edge-in-tightest-of-contests/ Chronicle]

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Gibraltar elections}}

Category:General elections in Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Category:2023 elections in Gibraltar

Category:October 2023 in Europe