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] On 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"

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.