NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Politics of Gibraltar

Politics of Gibraltar takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Chief Minister is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, with full internal self-government under its 1969 Constitution. The preamble to that 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.". States currently utilising parliamentary systems are denoted in red A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representants. ... Dependency has a number of meanings: In project management, a dependency is a link amongst a projects terminal elements. ... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (almost exclusively Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ...

In a referendum on September 10, 1967, the people Gibraltar voted by 12,138 to 44 to reject the transfer of sovereignty to Spain and to remain under British sovereignty. This day is now celebrated as Gibraltar's National Day. In a referendum organised by the Government of Gibraltar on November 7, 2002, voters overwhelmingly rejected the principle that Spain and the United Kingdom should share sovereignty over Gibraltar, by 17,900 votes to 187 on a turnout of almost 88%. A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

Unlike most other British colonies, Gibraltar has not been offered independence by the UK. It has been suggested that this is on the grounds that the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), under which Spain ceded the territory to the British Crown, states that should the British Crown dispose of Gibraltar, it must be first offered to Spain. However the Gibraltar Government has pointed out at the UN that Article 103 of the UN Charter overrules and annuls this "reversionary clause". The Treaties of Utrecht (April 11, 1713) were signed in Utrecht, a city of the United Provinces. ...

Neither the United Kingdom, nor Spain seem keen to test the legal status of Clause X of the Treaty of Utrecht in court. The remaining parts of the treaty which regulated such things as the slave trade, and the transfer of Minorca to the British, have become obsolete.

Spain argues that Gibraltar's status is an anachronism, and that it should become an autonomous community of Spain, similar to Catalonia or the Basque Country. It also argues that the principle of territorial integrity, not self-determination applies, drawing parallels with the British handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997. However, at the same time, successive Spanish governments have refused to countenance the handover of their north African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco. The Junda de Andalucia belives that Gibraltar should be integrated into its regional autonomy. Autonomous communities of Spain. ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Catalan and Spanish In Val dAran, also Aranese. ... Capital Vitoria-Gasteiz Official languages Basque and Spanish Area â€“ Total â€“ % of Spain Ranked 14th 7 234 kmÂ² 1,4% Population â€“ Total (2005) â€“ % of Spain â€“ Density Ranked 7th 2 124 846 4,9% 293,73/kmÂ² Demonym â€“ English â€“ Spanish â€“ Basque Basque vasco/a euskal herritar, euskaldun GDP GDP/CÃ¡pita 30. ... Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states. ... Self-determination is a principle in international law that a people ought to be able to determine their own governmental forms and structure free from outside influence. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Area â€“ Total 28 kmÂ² Population â€“ Total (2003) â€“ Density 76,152 2719. ... Area â€“ Total 20 kmÂ² (8 miÂ²) Population â€“ Total (2005) â€“ Density 65,488 3274. ...

The Gibraltarians continue to assert that they are British not Spanish. HMG repeatedly states that there can be no change in the status of Gibraltar without their democratic consent. The Gibraltar Government has asked the UN Committee of 24 to refer the issues to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion, but Spain has lobbied against this. The Gibraltar Government has also invited the Committee to visit the territory, but so far, despite no objection from the United Kingdom, they have not.

A new constitution awaiting approval by a referendum will further increase the level of self-government in the territory.

Executive branch

Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sir Francis Richards (1945 - ), KCMG CVO, was appointed Her Majestys Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar in 2003. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Peter Richard Caruana Peter Richard Caruana QC (born October 15, 1956) is a Gibraltarian politician, and has been Chief Minister since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats, first came to power. ... The Gibraltar Social Democrats (abbreviated GSD) are a political party in Gibraltar. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

The Governor

Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, presently Sir Francis Richards (appointed 2003). The Governor appoints the leader of the largest party in the unicameral House of Assembly, as Chief Minister, along with other members of the Council of Ministers. In addition, he appoints the Financial Development Secretary and the Attorney-General, who are ex officio members of the House of Assembly. They, along with the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the Chief Minister, are members of the advisory Gibraltar Council. The Governor is also directly responsible for the local police force, known as the Royal Gibraltar Police, while the Deputy Governor is responsible for public service appointments. Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born on 21 April 1926, is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. ... A Chief Minister is the elected Head of Government of a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British overseas territory that has attained self-government. ... The Council of the European Union forms, along with the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the European Union (EU). ...

The Executive

The present Chief Minister is the Hon Peter Caruana, QC, of the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD), who have been in office since May 17, 1996, and were returned to power in elections held on February 10, 2000, and November 27, 2003. The Leader of the Opposition is the Hon Joe Bossano, of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Pary (GSLP), which is in coalition with the Liberal Party of Dr Joseph Garcia. All parties support Gibraltar's right to self-determination, and reject agreements with Spain on the issue of sovereignty. Traditionally, the GSLP has been more hardline towards Madrid, the GSD more conciliatory, although less so in government than in opposition. Peter Richard Caruana Peter Richard Caruana QC (born October 15, 1956) is a Gibraltarian politician, and has been Chief Minister since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats, first came to power. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Joseph John Bossano, known as Joe Bossano, is a Gibraltarian politician, and leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party. ...

The Legislature

The Gibraltar House of Assembly consists of fifteen elected members, the Speaker, and the two ex officio members. Under the electoral system of partial bloc voting used since 1969, voters must choose eight candidates, who need necessarily not 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 eight candidates, and the result is usually that eight of the elected seats are won by the most popular party which forms the elected Government; the remaining seven are usually won by the 'best loser' which forms the opposition. The last election was held on November 27, 2003. The Gibraltar House of Assembly is the legislature of the British territory of Gibraltar, which consists primarily of the Rock of Gibraltar, the northern side of the Strait of Gibraltar which is the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. ... Bloc voting (or block voting) refers to a class of voting systems which can be used to elect several representatives from a single multimember constituency. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Political parties and elections

Since the 2003 election the Reform Party has dissolved, with the party leader and others now involved in Friends of the Earth (Gibraltar). The Labour Party has merged with the Gibraltar Social Democrats. An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... This article lists political parties in Gibraltar. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Elections in Gibraltar gives information on election and election results in Gibraltar. ... The Gibraltar House of Assembly is the legislature of the British territory of Gibraltar, which consists primarily of the Rock of Gibraltar, the northern side of the Strait of Gibraltar which is the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. ... The Gibraltar Social Democrats (abbreviated GSD) are a political party in Gibraltar. ... The Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (abbreviated GSLP) is a political party in Gibraltar. ... This article is part of or related to the Liberalism series Categories: Gibraltar-related stubs | Liberal parties | Gibraltarian political parties ... The Gibraltar Labour Party was a political party in Gibraltar. ...

A new party,New Gibraltar Democracy has announced it will contest the next election. New Gibraltar Democracy advocates the imposition of more checks and balances on the exercise of power by the local government. It objects to proposed new constitutional reforms which, it says would give even more unfettered powers to the executive. NGD claims that the two main parties are out of touch with people's expectations and make up for their lack of ideas through Orwellian style propaganda. A party founded in 2005 by campaigning lawyer Charles Gomez. ...

Pressure Groups

In addition to the parties there are a number of pressure groups active in Gibraltar, not aligned to any political party.

The Womens Association

The Gibraltar Women's Association was founded on the 15th february 1966, by Mrs Mariola Summerfield and Mrs Angela Smith.

It was originally known as the Gibraltar Housewives Association, and subsequently, in the early eighties it was changed to the Gibraltar Women's Association keeping in with more modern times that not all women were just housewives.

Equality Rights - GGR

Probably one of the most interesting social phenomena in Gibraltar was the launch in September 2000 of a gay rights organisation GGR causing a stir in a conservative society such as Gibraltar.

However, the open and challenging campaigns this NGO has put to the fore of Gibraltar issues has meant that GGR has become Gibraltar's premier Human Rights organisation.

As such GGR is now known as Equality Rights GGR reflecting the fact that although it still defends sexual minorities it is also highly active on issues regarding the disabled, British residents' rights, and issues regarding the protection of children against sex abuse amongst others.

The phenomenon has meant that, increasingly, more and more sectors of the Gibraltar community have found encouragement to bring forward their own issues in an equally forthright manner.

This can be seen not only with the growth of environmentalist groups but also citizens groups fighting against development and planning of construction projects. In a way, this NGO phenomenon is perhaps the most interesting political development in Gibraltar since the foundation of the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACR) in the 1940s as a result of the WWII experience.

Local politics has for decades revolved upon Sovereignty issues, allowing for local politicians to construct whole careers on this one item whilst allowing Gibraltar to stay behind on social issues wherein the rest of Europe has moved forward.

The Environmental Safety Group

The ESG is a registered Gibraltar charity which works to safeguard the Environment of Gibraltar and the Bay area, including air, land and marine aspects. The group campaigns to protect local ecology from pollution and contamination and to promote public safety in all matters relating to the welfare of our community.

The Voice of Gibraltar Group

The VOGG is a long running group which has the objective of defending the rights of Gibraltarians against external threats. It engages in public debate, and protest action where appropriate. As a non-political pressure group, its members represent a wide cross section of the community. Image File history File linksMetadata Voggref02. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Voggref02. ...

It was particularly active in canvassing a 'NO' note in the 2002 referendum, when it toured the housing estates with a loudspeaker van and invited guests from all parties to address residents, culminating with the Chief Minister at Convent Place, after the result was announced.

Constitutional Reform

Select Committee Proposals

In 1999, the Government of Gibraltar established a Select Committee on Constitutional Reform, to consider how the 1969 Constitution should be reformed. It envisaged decolonisation by creating a modern and non-colonial relationship with the United Kingdom. A draft Constitution was published in 2002, which envisaged the following: 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ...

In March 2006 Jack Straw, the UK Foreign Secretary announced in the House of Commons that the details of a new constitution had been agreed. There are some differences between the draft constitution and the one to which the UK agreed, namely that the Governor's title will remain unchanged, and that the Police Authority will remain independent of the Government of Gibraltar. The Channel Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Normandy, France, in the English Channel. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jack Straw was/is the name of two famous individuals: John Whitaker Straw (born August 3, 1946), commonly known as Jack Straw, is a British Labour Party politician. ... British House of Commons Canadian House of Commons In some bicameral parliaments of a Westminster System, the House of Commons has historically been the name of the elected lower house. ...

New Constitution 2006

The long awaited new constitution will be put to a referendum in Gibraltar and if approved will in effect remove any residual element of colonialism. Writing to the Spanish Foreign Minister, Jack Straw stated: Jack Straw was/is the name of two famous individuals: John Whitaker Straw (born August 3, 1946), commonly known as Jack Straw, is a British Labour Party politician. ...

Peter Richard Caruana Peter Richard Caruana QC (born October 15, 1956) is a Gibraltarian politician, and has been Chief Minister since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats, first came to power. ...

Integration with the UK

A group in Gibraltar has campaigned in favour of a far closer relationship with the UK, in the form of devolved integration or incorporation into the UK itself. This is similar to what was offered to Malta in 1955. The Rock would be represented in the British House of Commons, while retaining internal self-government. This would be a similar status to France's Overseas Departments, and indeed to Spain's North African enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, claimed by Morocco. One of Spain's arguments in rejecting comparisons between Gibraltar and these territories, is that they are part of Spain, whereas Gibraltar is merely a British crown colony, and not part of the UK. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... Northern Africa (UN subregion) geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Area â€“ Total 28 kmÂ² Population â€“ Total (2003) â€“ Density 76,152 2719. ... Area â€“ Total 20 kmÂ² (8 miÂ²) Population â€“ Total (2005) â€“ Density 65,488 3274. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ...

However, the British Foreign Office rejected the idea in 1976, along with independence, on the grounds that any further constitutional reform or decolonisation would have to take into account the so-called 'Spanish dimension'. Many in Gibraltar, including the present Government, have also argued against integration on the grounds that it would mean the surrendering of many existing powers of self-government. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom abroad. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1976 calendar). ...

While there is still considerable emotional attachment to the idea of Gibraltar being British, some see the Rock's future as being within a larger 'Europe of the Regions', rather than as part of one nation state or another.

Condominium

The idea of a condominium, with sovereignty shared between the UK and Spain has even less support in Gibraltar. The suggestion was made on a BBC Television programme made in Gibraltar on the eighties by a UK politician, and attended by Fernando Moran, prior to becoming foreign minister of Spain and re-opening the land frontier. The suggestion was for a status similar to that of Andorra, in which Queen Elizabeth II and King Juan Carlos would be joint heads of state, in the same way that President of France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell are Co-Princes of Andorra. In international law, a condominium is a territory in which two sovereign powers have equal rights. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born on 21 April 1926, is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... King Juan Carlos I (Juan Carlos Alfonso VÃctor MarÃa de BorbÃ³n y BorbÃ³n-Dos Sicilias; pron. ... A head of state or chief of state is the chief public representative of a nation-state, federation or commonwealth, whose role generally includes personifying the continuity and legitimacy of the state and exercising the political powers, functions and duties granted to the head of state in the countrys... The President of France, known officially as the President of the Republic (Président de la République in French), is Frances elected Head of State. ... The Bishop of Urgell is the Roman Catholic bishop for Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and also the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. ...

This would give Spain a symbolic constitutional role in Gibraltar, but would not go far enough for Spain towards effective Spanish control of the Rock. Even a symbolic role would be a step too far for most Gibraltarians.

European election 2004

Although affected by European Union law, Gibraltar had not voted in elections for the European Parliament. This changed in the 2004 election, when it was included as part of the South West England region, as its electorate of 20,740 is too small to justify even a single seat set aside for it. The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ... The European Parliament election, 2004 was the UK part of the European Parliament election, 2004. ... South West England is one of the regions of England. ...

This was the first UK election Gibraltar has ever participated in. 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. The Conservatives also campaigned more strongly, with the support of the Gibraltar branch of the party, and a visit from the party leader Michael Howard. The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the right-of-centre in the United Kingdom and the most successful party in political history based on election victories. ... The Labour Party has since its formation in the early 20th century been the principal left wing political party of the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The Rt. ...

External links

Category: Politics of Gibraltar Image File history File links Flag_of_Gibraltar. ... // Prehistoric Evidence of hominid inhabitation of the Rock dates back to the Neanderthals. ... On April 25, 1607 during the Eighty Years War, a Dutch fleet surprised and engaged a Spanish fleet anchored at the Bay of Gibraltar. ... The Treaty of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed in Utrecht in 1713 that helped end the War of the Spanish Succession (Queen Annes War) By its provisions, Louis XIVs grandson Philip V of Spain was recognized as King of Spain, but Spains European empire... Combatants Great Britain Spain, France Commanders George Eliott The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of American Independence. ... Death on the Rock was a controversial and BAFTA award winning episode of Thames Televisions current affairs strand This Week. ... Aurora is a cruise ship owned by P&O cruises. ... Flag of the Governor of Gibraltar The Governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdoms overseas territory of Gibraltar. ... The Chief Minister of Gibraltar is the leader of the largest party in the Gibraltar House of Assembly, and is formally appointed by the Governor of Gibraltar, representative of the British Crown. ... The Gibraltar House of Assembly is the legislature of the British territory of Gibraltar, which consists primarily of the Rock of Gibraltar, the northern side of the Strait of Gibraltar which is the passage between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. ... This article lists political parties in Gibraltar. ... Elections in Gibraltar gives information on election and election results in Gibraltar. ... The disputed status of Gibraltar exists because of a three hundred year old claim by Spain which is rejected by the United Kingdom and the Gibraltarians. ... The Gibraltar pound (ISO 4217 currency code: GIP) is often quoted as the currency of Gibraltar. ... Cap Badge of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment The Royal Gibraltar Regiment is the home defence unit for the British Colony of Gibraltar. ... RAF Gibraltar is a Royal Air Force station on Gibraltar. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... The Gibraltar Services Police (GSP) is a civil police force which guards and enforces law on Ministry of Defence installations on Gibraltar. ... // Telecommunications Until 1990, telephone services were operated by the Gibraltar Telephone Department. ... Gibraltar during the 18th Century was a Military Garrison where the British Governor ruled supreme with no elected civilian government. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 Flag of Gibraltar on the top of the Rock of Gibraltar The Flag of Gibraltar is an elongated banner of the Coat of arms of Gibraltar, granted by Royal Warrant Queen Isabella of Castile on the 10th July 1502. ... Coat of arms of Gibraltar The Coat of Arms of Gibraltar were first granted on July 10, 1502 by Isabella of Castile. ... Gibraltar retains as its official anthem God Save the Queen in common with the other United Kingdom dependencies. ...

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