2019 Gibraltar general election explained

Country:Gibraltar
Type:Parliamentary
Previous Election:2015 Gibraltar general election
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2023 Gibraltar general election
Next Year:2023
Seats For Election:All 17 seats in the Gibraltar Parliament
Majority Seats:9
Election Date:17 October 2019
Turnout:70.84% (0.07pp)
Image1:Fabian Picardo 2018 4x3 cropped.jpg
Leader1:Fabian Picardo
Party1:GSLP–Liberal Alliance
Seats1:10
Popular Vote1:83,122
Percentage1:52.50%
Swing1:15.94pp
Party2:Gibraltar Social Democrats
Seats2:6
Seat Change2:1
Popular Vote2:40,453
Percentage2:25.55%
Swing2:6.01pp
Image3:3x4.svg
Party3:Together Gibraltar
Last Election3:
Seats3:1
Seat Change3:New
Popular Vote3:32,455
Percentage3:20.50%
Swing3:New
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 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.[1] In 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 won their third consecutive election, retaining their majority in the Parliament. Fabian Picardo was returned as Chief Minister of Gibraltar. However both the governing GSLP–Liberal Alliance and the opposition Gibraltar Social Democrats lost votes to new party Together Gibraltar, which won one seat from the GSD.[2]

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.[3] [4] In September 2019, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo formally asked Governor Ed Davis to dissolve parliament and call an election for 17 October 2019.[1] Following the British tradition, elections in Gibraltar conventionally take place on a Thursday.

MPs were elected through limited voting.

Campaign

The issue of Brexit (formerly due to take place exactly two weeks after election day) was a major theme in the election campaign, with incumbent Chief Minister Fabian Picardo stating that the territory is ready for a 'no deal' Brexit.[5]

Party slogans

Party or allianceSlogan
GSLP/Libs Alliance"All Our Generations in Our Hearts"
GSD"The Gibraltar You Deserve"
Together Gibraltar"Believe in a better way"
Robert Vasquez "Your Fearless and Independent Voice"
John Charles Pons"Vote for: The Planet, Humanity, Youths' Future, Greta Thunberg"

Incumbent MPs (from 2015)

CandidatePartySeeking re-election?Parliamentary role(s)Notes
Fabian PicardoGSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesChief Minister (since 2011)Due to the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, in the reshuffle he relinquished his responsibilities of the media to Steven Linares
Joseph GarciaGSLP-Liberal Alliance (LPG])YesDeputy Chief Minister (since 2011)At the reshuffle, he inherited responsibilities of Exiting the EU.
GSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesMinister for Health, the Environment, Energy and Climate Change (2015–2016)
Minister for the Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Climate Education (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Gilbert LicudiGSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesMinister for Education, and Justice & International Exchange of Information (2015–2016)
Minister for Tourism, Employment, Commercial Aviation and the Port (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Albert IsolaGSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesMinister for Financial Services and Gaming (2015–2016)
Minister for Commerce (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Neil CostaGSLP-Liberal Alliance (LPG])NoMinister for Business & Employment (2015–2016)
Minister for Health, Care and Justice (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Samantha SacramentoGSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesMinister for Tourism, Housing, Equality and Social Services (2015–2016)
Minister for Housing and Equality (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Steven LinaresGSLP-Liberal Alliance (LPG])YesMinister for Sports, Culture, Heritage and Youth (2015–2016)
Minister for Culture, the Media, Youth and Sport (2016–2019)
Inherited responsibilities of the media away from the Chief Minister himself by him. Reshuffled due to aftermath of Brexit referendum.
Paul BalbanGSLP-Liberal Alliance (GSLP)YesMinister for Transport, Traffic and Technical Services (2015–2016)
Minister for Infrastructure and Planning (2016–2019)
Ministries reshuffled as a result of the aftermath of the Brexit referendum
Daniel FeethamGSDYesLeader of the Opposition (2013–2017) He was voted by the GSD's membership against his colleague, Damon Bossino, to be party leader since 2013 (thus making him Leader of the Opposition). He resigned his post in 2017 after whip resignations from Marlene Hassan-Nahon and Lawrence Llamas respectively.
Marlene Hassan-NahonGSDYesShadow Minister for Health, Education & Broadcasting and Media (2015–2016)
Independent Opposition MP (2016–2018)
Together Gibraltar MP (2018–2019)
Elected as GSD Opposition Whip. Later, in 2016, she left the party due to alleged "toxic" ideology under Daniel Feetham's leadership.
Afterward, she became an Independent until 2018, when she founded her political movement, Together Gibraltar (later evolved to a political party after membership votes in 2019).
GSDYesShadow Minister for Justice, Employment and Training, Youth, Equality, Civil Rights, Exchange of Information & Drugs and Rehabilitation
Edwin ReyesGSDYesShadow Minister for Housing, Sports and Leisure, Culture & Civil Contingencies
GSDYesShadow Minister for Public Finance, GSB, Inward Investment, Small Business and Heritage (since 2015)
Interim Leader of the Opposition (2017)
Opposition Parliamentary Leader (2017–2019)
Inherited Interim Leader of the Opposition after Daniel Feetham's resignation.
He was a candidate for the permanent role against re-joined former MP, Minister and DCM, Keith Azopardi. He was unsuccessful for the role after a leadership election from his party's membership.
He became the GSD's Parliament Leader due to new LoO, Keith Azopardi, originally haven't been a candidate from the last election.
GSDYesShadow Minister for Environment, Transport and Traffic, Technical Services, Utilities, Planning, Health and Safety & European Affairs
Lawrence LlamasGSDNoShadow Minister for Social Services, Families and Children, Tourism, The Port & Animal Abuse and Welfare (2015–2017 & 2018–2019)
Independent MP (2017–2018)
Resigned his whip in 2017 due to ideological disagreements with Daniel Feetham. He later rejoined after Keith Azopardi became the new Leader of the Opposition

Results

By candidate

CandidatePartyAllianceVotesNotes
Fabian PicardoGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance 9,961Elected
Joseph GarciaLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,672Elected
John CortesGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance9,003Elected
Albert IsolaGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,502Elected
Joseph BossanoGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance8,374Elected
Gilbert LicudiGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance 8,293Elected
Steven LinaresLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance7,718Elected
Paul BalbanGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance7,251Elected
Samantha SacramentoGSLPGSLP–Liberal Alliance7,192Elected
Vijay DaryananiLPGGSLP–Liberal Alliance 7,156Elected
Marlene Hassan-NahonTGNone5,639Elected
GSDNone4,868Elected
Daniel FeethamGSDNone4,842Elected
GSDNone4,711Elected
GSDNone4,342Elected
Elliott PhillipsGSDNone4,165Elected
Edwin ReyesGSDNone3,840Elected
Craig SacarelloTGNone3,805
Alfred BallesterGSDNone3,681
Joelle LadislausGSDNone3,484
Trevor HammondGSDNone3,451Unseated
Siân JonesTGNone3,345
John MontegriffoTGNone3,158
Orlando YeatsGSDNone3,069
Kamlesh Khubchand DaswaniTGNone3,035
Neil SamtaniTGNone2,889
Daniel GhioTGNone2,780
Erika PozoTGNone2,640
Jackie AndersonTGNone2,619
Tamsin SuarezTGNone2,545
Robert VasquezIndependentNone1,460
John Charles PonsIndependentNone838
Source: Parliament of Gibraltar, Together Gibraltar Candidates

Notes and References

  1. News: General election called for 17th October . 21 September 2019 . . 16 September 2019 . en.
  2. News: Picardo celebrates third consecutive election win . 18 October 2019 . . 17 October 2019 . en .
  3. Web site: Official text of the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 . 14 December 2006 . Laws of Gibraltar . 9 April 2022.
  4. Web site: Reporting of the Proceedings of the Gibraltar Parliament . 21 December 2011 . Parliament of Gibraltar . 2013-09-01 . 21 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190921091135/https://www.parliament.gi/images/hansard/hansard_2012/wednesday_21_december_2011_ceremonial_opening.pdf . dead .
  5. Web site: Gibraltar heads to the polls amid no-deal Brexit fears. Politico. 15 October 2019.