General elections were held in Gibraltar on 12 October 2023 to elect all 17 members of the fifth

Gibraltar Parliament The Gibraltar Parliament is the legislature of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Between 1969 and 2006, it was called the Gibraltar House of Assembly. Functions The House of Assembly, set up under the 1969 constitution, was a un ...

. This was the first election in Gibraltar's history to use an electronic voting count system. The

GSLP–Liberal Alliance The GSLP–Liberal Alliance is a centre-left political alliance active in Gibraltar consisting of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) and Liberal Party of Gibraltar (LPG). History The first election contested by the Alliance was the 20 ...

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 from the Alliance and one from the non-contesting party, Together Gibraltar).

Background

On 24 August 2020 it was announced that Government MP and Minister,

Gilbert Licudi The Hon. Gilbert Horace Licudi is a Gibraltarian barrister and legal partner at Hassans and former Minister (2011-2020) and former MP (2007-2023) of Gibraltar, member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP). He is married and has two ...

, would resign as Minister and remain as MP backbencher. Later, on 17 July 2023, he announced he would step down for re-election as MP. On 14 June 2023 it was announced that Together Gibraltar leader and her party's sole MP,

Marlene Hassan-Nahon Marlene Hassan Nahon (born 1976) is a Gibraltarian historian, journalist and politician, currently serving as a member of the Gibraltar Parliament since 2015. Biography Hassan Nahon is daughter of the late Chief Minister Sir Joshua Abraha ...

(daughter of Hassans' founder & Gibraltar's first Mayor and Chief Minister, Sir 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 The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, ho ...

will return as an independent MP candidate. On 15 September 2023, it was announced that Paul Balban,

Albert Isola The Hon. Albert J. Isola TEP is a Gibraltarian barrister and politician, member of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP). He was a member of the Gibraltar House of Assembly as part of the Opposition between 1996 and 2000. He later becam ...

and

Samantha Sacramento Samantha Jane Sacramento is a Gibraltar politician. She is the Minister for the Health Authority, Justice, Multiculturalism, Equality and Community Affairs in the Government of Gibraltar. Samantha Sacramento was born in Gibraltar. She attended s ...

, Government MPs and Ministers, would not stand for re-election. On 16 September, it was announced that GSD MP,

Daniel Feetham Daniel Anthony Feetham KC MP is a Gibraltarian politician and lawyer who served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD) from 2013 to 2017. Political career Mr Feetham was one of the founders of the Gibra ...

, would not stand for re-election. On 17 September, the GSLP have announced their new four candidates for the elections: Hassans' Legal Partner & Head of Financial Services,

Nigel Feetham Nigel ( ) is an English masculine given name. The English ''Nigel'' is commonly found in records dating from the Middle Ages; however, it was not used much before being revived by 19th-century antiquarians. For instance, Walter Scott publish ...

KC (brother of outgoing GSD MP, Daniel Feetham); former teacher and Miss Gibraltar 1974, Patricia Orfila; Director of the Gibraltar Academy of Music & Performing Arts (GAMPA) and former

Mayor of Gibraltar The Mayor of Gibraltar is the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The mayor is appointed by the elected Members of ParliamentHassans' Legal Partner and Solicitor,

Gemma Arias-Vasquez Gemma or GEMMA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Gemma (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Gemma (surname), includes a list of people with the name Science and technology Biology * G ...

. On 18 September, it was announced that Together Gibraltar would not contest the election. Interim Leader,

Nicky Calamaro Nicky is a diminutive form of the name Nicholas, Nicola (name), Nicola and Nicole (name), Nicole, occasionally used as a given name in its own right. It can also be used as a diminutive of Dominic. It may refer to: People Sports * Nicky Adams (b ...

, 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. On that same night, the GSD announced their 6 new candidates with 3 women ( TSN's Senior Law Associate and Barrister & GSD's executive member and 2019 election candidate Joelle Ladislaus; RGP's ((

Royal Gibraltar Police The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) is, along with His Majesty's Customs (Gibraltar), the principal civilian law enforcement agency in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is the oldest police force in the Commonwealth of Nations out ...

)) 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); 1 Moroccan/Moorish descent Muslim male & GSD executive ( Youseff El Hana); GSD executive (Formerly Together Gibraltar executive member) and candidate of TG in 2019 (

Craig Sacarello __NOTOC__ Craig may refer to: Geology *Craig (landform), a rocky hill or mountain often having large casims or sharp intentations. People (and fictional characters) *Craig (surname) *Craig (given name) Places Scotland *Craig, Angus, aka Barony of ...

) and 1 GSD Future member and Isolas' Law Associate,

Giovanni Origo Giovanni may refer to: * Giovanni (name), an Italian male given name and surname * Giovanni (meteorology), a Web interface for users to analyze NASA's gridded data * ''Don Giovanni'', a 1787 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, based on the legend of ...

. On 19 September, it was announced that

Liberal Party of Gibraltar The Liberal Party of Gibraltar (Libs or LPG) is a liberal political party in Gibraltar. It was founded in 1991 as the Gibraltar National Party and is led by Dr. Joseph Garcia. The LPG forms the GSLP–Liberal Alliance in partnership with the Gi ...

MP and Minister,

Steven Linares The Hon. Steven Ernest Linares is a Gibraltarian teacher, trade unionist, barrister and politician affiliated to the Liberal Party of Gibraltar (LPG). He is an MP at the Gibraltar Parliament and as of December 2011 formed part of the Governme ...

, 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 Leslie may refer to: * Leslie (name), a name and list of people with the given name or surname, including fictional characters Families * Clan Leslie, a Scottish clan with the motto "grip fast" * Leslie (Russian nobility), a Russian noble family ...

of the same party. On 14 September both businessman

Allan Asquez Allan may refer to: People * Allan (name), a given name and surname, including list of people and characters with this name * Allan (footballer, born 1984) (Allan Barreto da Silva), Brazilian football striker * Allan (footballer, born 1989) (Al ...

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 The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) is Gibraltar's public service broadcaster. It has provided the community with a radio and television service since 1963. History Modelled on the BBC, the Corporation was established in 1963 with ...

, he alleged that he did what he did because the party's leader and Chief Minister,

Fabian Picardo Fabian Raymond Picardo (born 18 February 1972) is a Gibraltarians, Gibraltarian politician and barrister serving as Chief Minister of Gibraltar and Leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party since 2011 Gibraltar general election, 2011. At t ...

, 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 Yusuf ( ar, يوسف ') is a male name of Arabic origin meaning " God increases" (in piety, power and influence).From the Hebrew יהוה להוסיף ''YHWH Lhosif'' meaning " YHWH will increase/add". It is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew ...

apologised, on GBC's Viewpoint, to Gibraltar's

Jewish community Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

for 'offensive language' used on social media from 2018, regarding national and religious conflicts between

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East J ...

and

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

. Reacting to his apology, the Chair of the Charity,

Learning from Auschwitz Gibraltar Learning is the process of acquiring new understanding, knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, attitudes, and preferences. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals, and some machines; there is also evidence for some kind of ...

, 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.

Timing and procedure

Under section 38(2) of the

Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 The Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 was taken to a referendum in Gibraltar on 30 November 2006. A coalition of groups opposing the proposal held that a majority of 60% should be required to give effect to a new Constitution, quoting other ins ...

, the Parliament must be dissolved four years after its first meeting following the last election (unless the

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...

advises the

Governor of Gibraltar The governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the governor is to act as th ...

to dissolve parliament sooner). Under section 37 of the Constitution,

writs In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon ''gewrit'', Latin ''breve'') is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, subpoenas, a ...

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

formally asked Governor Sir

David Steel David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, (born 31 March 1938) is a British politician. Elected as Member of Parliament for Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles, followed by Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale, he served as the final leade ...

to dissolve parliament and an election to take place on 12 October 2023.

Opinion polls

:a. Poll published prior to the official declaration of competing candidates. :b. In both 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). :In both these polls, the percentages of votes either not used (or were left blank) have not been included in the overall total percentage count. : :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) 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)

Parties and candidates

Results

By candidate

References

{{Gibraltar elections General elections in Gibraltar Gibraltar

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

October 2023 events in Europe