Next Gibraltar general election

Next Gibraltar general election

← 2023 By 8 March 2028
All 17 seats in the Gibraltar Parliament 9 seats needed for a majority
Candidate TBD (GSLP) Keith Azopardi Nicky Calamaro Party Alliance Social Democrats Together Gibraltar Last election 50.04%, 9 seats[1] 48.15%, 8 seats[1] Did not contest Seats needed 1 9
Incumbent Chief Minister Fabian Picardo Socialist Labour

General elections will be held in Gibraltar by 8 March 2028 to elect all 17 members to the sixth Gibraltar Parliament.

Before the 2023 elections, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo announced that if elected, his fourth term as Chief Minister would be his last, and suggested Gemma Arias-Vasquez (New Minister for Health, Care & Business) to be his successor as leader of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party, if elected by the party, thus would become Gibraltar's first female Chief Minister and MP who takes the role without being a party leader, if decided in the general election. Nigel Feetham, the new Minister for Justice, Trade & Industry, has also expressed interest in succeeding Picardo as party leader on social media.^[2]

However, on 5 November 2024 Picardo rescinded his retirement plan, announcing on GBC that he would be standing for the next elections as party leader, subject to a vote of confidence by party membership at its AGM. Feetham subsequently rescinded his leadership bid, which resulted in Picardo being re-elected party leader unopposed.

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]

With the first meeting of the current parliament taking place on 10 November 2023, parliament must be dissolved before midnight on 9 November 2027, writs must be issued by 9 December 2027 and an election must take place before 8 March 2028. However, if recent precedent is followed, the Chief Minister is likely to ask the Governor for an early dissolution and an election to take place sometime in October 2027 (four years after the last election). Following the British tradition, elections conventionally take place on a Thursday.