Politics of Gibraltar

The politics of Gibraltar takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic British Overseas Territory, whereby the Monarch of the United Kingdom is the constitutional head of state represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the head of Government. As a British Overseas Territory, the Government of Gibraltar is not subordinate to the Government of the United Kingdom. The British Government, however, is responsible for defence and external affairs but Gibraltar has full internal self-government under its 2006 Constitution.

The government of Spain continues with an irredentist territorial claim to Gibraltar, which was ceded in perpetuity to the British Crown in 1713 by Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht. In a referendum held in 2002, a proposal for shared sovereignty was overwhelmingly rejected by the Gibraltar electorate with 98.97% voting against. The sovereignty issue remains an important factor in local politics.

Gibraltar has a number of political parties which have developed to address local issues. The preamble to the 2006 Constitution repeated from the 1969 Constitution states that "Her Majesty's Government will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes."

Executive branch

As an overseas territory of Britain, the head of state is King Charles III, who is represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. Britain retains responsibility for defence, foreign relations, internal security and overall financial stability .

Government

The Government of Gibraltar is elected for a term of four years. The head of government is the chief minister, currently the Hon. Fabian Picardo of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), who has been in office since 9 December 2011, in alliance with the Liberal Party of Gibraltar (Liberals), following the 2011 General Election. The Leader of the Opposition is the Hon. Keith Azopardi of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) since 2019.

The composition of the Government of Gibraltar is the following:

PictureNamePartyMinisterial RoleResponsibilitiesThe Hon.Fabian Picardo KC, MPGSLPChief MinisterThe economy & financial stability (with consultation with the U.K government since they have overall responsibility) Public finance and the Treasury International representation of Gibraltar and its people International treaties Personal status including immigration, residence and adoption Elections The Civil Service and the public sector as a whole, including state-owned enterprises The Government Companies Customs ITLD and Digital Services Cyber-Security and Prevention of Online Harms Social Security Broadcasting The Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Matters related to Armed Forces Veterans and relationship with the MOD Chairman, Borders and Coastguard Agency Chairman, Gibraltar Development Corporation Constituency MP for Moorish Castle, Calpe and the Upper Town The administration of Government departments charged with the aforesaid, overall responsibility and supervision of Government departments and public administrationThe Hon.Dr. Joseph Garcia, MPLPGDeputy Chief MinisterWorking in close partnership with the Chief Minister in his exercise of overall responsibility for and supervision of Government departments External action, coordination of the external action of the Government of Gibraltar in particular The European Union The United Nations Relations with the Commonwealth International political lobbying Promotion of the right to self-determination Work on the future partnership negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union Work on implementation of a Treaty in the event that one is concluded Work on planning for a No Negotiated Outcome to the Treaty negotiations, in the event that no treaty is concluded Responsibility for Gibraltar representative offices abroad Political, democratic and civic reform Transparency, Open Government and Information Lands and oversight of Government projects Civil Aviation Oversight of manifesto implementation Constituency MP for the Lower Town The administration of Government departments charged with the aforesaid.The Hon. Joe Bossano, MPGSLPMinister for Economic Development, Enterprise, Telecommunications & the Gibraltar Savings BankEconomic development and inward investment Post-Brexit economic plan International trade Telecommunications Enterprise Public Sector Efficiency Procurement Training, apprenticeships and skills The Gibraltar Savings Bank Gibraltar National Mint Constituency MP with Special Responsibility for Senior Citizens The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaidThe Hon. Dr. John Cortes, MPGSLPMinister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change and EducationEducation The quality of life Green Gibraltar The child-friendly city The environment Environmental health Climate change, conservation and sustainability Heritage Upper Rock Marine resources Maintenance, administration and operation of tourist sites and beaches Pollution prevention and control Urban renewal Refuse Collection and Disposal Technical Services Department Infrastructure Transport and Urban Mobility including: public service vehicles, public transport, traffic, parking, roads, licensing and vehicles Implementation of the Sustainable Traffic and Transport Plan (STTP) Developing relations with Morocco Constituency MP for Alameda Estate and the South District The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid The Hon. Gemma Arias-Vasquez, MPGSLPMinister for Health, Care and Business Gibraltar Health Authority The Care Agency Elderly Residential Services Public Health Gibraltar The Quality of Care (including the regulation of professionals and services) Business The Port Maritime Services including ship and yacht registration Office of Fair Trading Town Planning Procurement Public Utilities Chair, AquaGib Chair, Gibraltar Electricity Authority Constituency MP for the Westside Area The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid Government Departments charged with the aforesaid The Hon. Leslie Bruzon, MPLPGMinister for Industrial Relations, Civil Contingencies and SportSport Leisure Industrial Relations Civil Contingencies Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Services Airport Fire and Rescue Services Constituency MP for the Eastside and Catalan Bay The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid The Hon. Nigel Feetham KC, MPGSLPMinister for Justice, Trade and IndustryFinancial Services Gaming Taxation including Coordination of International Exchange of Information Postal Services Data Protection Chair, Gibtelecom Justice, including: The Anti-Corruption Authority Sanctions The Legal System Probation Services Tribunals Community Services Schemes Access to justice/legal aid and assistance Law Drafting Policing His Majesty's Prison Service of Gibraltar Safeguarding Constituency MP for Glacis Estate, Laguna Estate, Ocean Village and Bayside The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid The Hon. Patricia Orfila, MPGSLPMinister for Housing Housing The Housing Works Agency Development of affordable, co-ownership estates Development of rental housing The University of Gibraltar Constituency MP for the area of Bayview, Cumberland, Nelson's View, The Anchorage, Rosia Plaza, Rosia Dale and Europa Point The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid The Hon. Christian Santos GMD, MPGSLPMinister for Equality, Employment, Culture and TourismEquality and minorities Supported needs (including disability strategy) Employment Supported Employment Youth Training, Apprenticeships and Skills Health and Safety Culture Tourism Entry points into Gibraltar Commercial Aviation and Gibraltar Air Terminal Ltd Chair, inter-ministerial committee on the prevention of drugs misuse, including substance abuse and rehabilitation The control of drugs misuse including substance abuse, rehabilitation and responsibility for Bruce's Farm Constituency MP for Varyl Begg Estate, Sir William Jackson Grove and Mid Harbours The administration of Government Departments charged with the aforesaid

Legislature

The Gibraltar Parliament (previously the House of Assembly) consists of seventeen elected members, and the Speaker. Under the electoral system of partial bloc voting used since 1969, voters (since 2007) could choose up to ten candidates, who do not necessarily need to be from the same party (but usually are). The winning candidates are then chosen by simple plurality; consequently, a party seeking to form a government stands ten candidates, and the party that forms the government is usually successful in having all ten of its candidates elected; the remaining seats are usually won by the 'best loser' which then forms the opposition. The last election was held on 17 October 2019. The next election is scheduled to be held on 12 October 2023.

Governor King Charles III is represented by the governor and commander-in-chief, presently Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst (sworn in June 2024). After an election, the governor appoints the leader of the largest party in the unicameral parliament, as chief minister. The governor is not involved in the day-to-day administration of Gibraltar, and his role is largely as a ceremonial head of state. The governor is responsible for matters of defence and security only.

Political parties and general elections

There are three political parties currently represented in the Gibraltar Parliament: Gibraltar Social Democrats; Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party and the Liberal Party of Gibraltar. All parties support Gibraltar's right to self-determination, and reject any concessions on the issue of sovereignty.

European Parliament elections

Until the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union in January 2020, Gibraltar was part of the EU under the British Treaty of accession, but had not voted in elections for the European Parliament although its membership of the European Union meant it was affected by European Union law. A ten-year campaign to acquire the vote culminated in the case of Matthews v. United Kingdom. Denise Matthews, a British Citizen resident in Gibraltar, claimed that the exclusion of the Gibraltar electorate from enfranchisement in the European Parliamentary elections was a breach of human rights. The European Court of Human Rights decided in her favour, ruling that the European Parliament formed a part of Gibraltar's legislature and held that the UK was bound by its conventions to secure the right for the people of Gibraltar to elect the European Parliament. The UK Government passed the European Parliament (Representation) Act in 2003 to comply with the ruling. Gibraltar was included in the South West England Region for the purposes of European Parliament elections, and first voted in the 2004 election.

The 2004 European Election was the first UK election in which Gibraltar participated. The Conservative Party took 69.52% of the vote, which has generally been interpreted as a protest against the handling of Gibraltar by the Labour Party.Conservative landslide The Conservatives also campaigned strongly, with the support of the Gibraltar branch of the party and a visit from the party leader Michael Howard.

In 2009, the Conservatives again topped the poll with 54% but in contrast to 2004 the turnout at 35% was much lower, being comparable to other EU states.EU election 2009

Politics of Gibraltar

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