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 (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.
On 5 September 2023 ongoing negotiations between Together Gibraltar and the GSD to form an electoral pact were finally abandoned.
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.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.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.
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.
Opinion polls
Note: This was Panaroma's last opinion polling article before they dissolved in April 2024.
Release datePublisher(s)Sample sizeGSLP/LibsGSDTGInd.SplitvoteBlank/not usedDon't know/undecidedLeadSource12 October 2023GBC Exit Poll1,40348.8% 849.6% 9–1.6%–––0.8%10 October 2023Panorama–49.2% 948.7% 8–2.1%–––0.5%9 October 2023GBC/Chronicle60049.9%848.3% 9–1.8%–9%–1.6%5 October 2023GBC/Chronicle60048.65 849.18% 9–2.17%–18%–0.53%17 September 2023GBC1,10021.64%23.72%2.98%–12.26%8.03%31.38%2.08%GBC News. GBC Election Poll: Narrow lead for GSD but huge undecided vote holds balance of power. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
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) CandidatePartyParliamentary role(s)Seeking re-election?Fabian Picardo (since 2003)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Chief Minister (since December 2011)Leader of GSLP & Alliance (since April 2011)YesJoseph Garcia (since 1999)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)Deputy Chief Minister (since 2011)Leader of LPG (since 1992)YesJohn Cortes (since 2011)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Climate ChangeYesAlbert Isola (since 2013)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Digital and Financial Services NoJoseph 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) Former leader of Alliance (2000–2011)YesGilbert Licudi (since 2007)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Education, Employment, Utilities and the Port (2019–2020)Backbencher (since 2020)NoSteven Linares (since 2000)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)Minister for Housing, Youth and SportNoPaul Balban (since 2011)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Health and CareNoSamantha Sacramento (since 2011)GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP)Minister for Justice, Multiculturalism, Equality and Community AffairsNoVijay DaryananiGSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG)Minister for Business, Tourism and TransportYesMarlene Hassan-Nahon (since 2015)Together Gibraltar (since 2019)Opposition MP for Together GibraltarFounder and former leader of TG (2017–June 2023)No Damon Bossino (2011–2015; since 2019)Gibraltar Social DemocratsShadow Minister for Housing, Lands & Transport YesDaniel Feetham (since 2007)Gibraltar Social DemocratsShadow Minister for Care, Opportunity & JusticePrevious Leader of GSD and Opposition (2011–2017)No Keith Azopardi (1996–2003; since 2019)Gibraltar Social DemocratsLeader of the Opposition (since 2017)Leader of GSD (since 2017)YesRoy Clinton (since 2015)Gibraltar Social DemocratsDeputy Leader of the Opposition & Shadow Minister for Finance & Value for MoneyFormer Interim Leader of GSD and Opposition (2017)YesElliott Phillips (since 2015)Gibraltar Social DemocratsShadow Minister for Environment, Transport & Health NoEdwin Reyes (since 2007)Gibraltar Social DemocratsShadow Minister for Education, Employment, Culture & SportYesSource: Parliament of Gibraltar
Parties and candidates Party or allianceIdeologyCurrent Seats Slogan Election Logo GSLP/Libs AllianceSocial Democracy, Social Liberalism10 "Keep Gibraltar Safe" GSDLiberal Conservatism, British Unionism6 "Make The Change For A Bright Future" Robert Vasquez (Independent)Social DemocracyN/A "Vote Vasquez Get FACTS (Fairness, Accountability, Community, Transparency, Stability)"
Results
By candidate CandidatePartyAllianceVotesNotesJoseph GarciaLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,852ElectedFabian PicardoGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,844ElectedKeith AzopardiGSD-9,607ElectedDamon BossinoGSD-9,602ElectedNigel FeethamGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,298ElectedGemma Arias-VasquezGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,280ElectedJohn CortesGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,256ElectedRoy ClintonGSD-9,250ElectedCraig SacarelloGSD-9,068ElectedChristian SantosGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,947ElectedPatricia OrfilaGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,729ElectedEdwin ReyesGSD-8,680Elected Joelle LadislausGSD-8,601ElectedLeslie BruzonLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,457ElectedJoseph Bossano GSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,346ElectedGiovanni OrigoGSD-8,314Elected Atrish SanchezGSD-8,258ElectedDaniella TilburyGSD-8,074Vijay DaryananiLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance7,932 UnseatedYouseff El HanaGSD-7,083 Robert VasquezIndependent-3,262 Source: Parliament, Chronicle
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