Change of government possible in closely fought Gibraltar elections
Oct 13, 2023
Gibraltar, October 13: Parliamentary elections have begun in Gibraltar, with pundits expecting a neck-and-neck race in the British overseas territory at the southern tip of Spain.
Gibraltar has been ruled for the last 12 years by Fabian Picardo of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party, in a coalition with the Liberal Party and the conservative Gibraltar Social Democrats of frontrunner Keith Azopardi.
Almost 25,000 citizens were called to vote on
Thursday.
According to polls, it will be a tight race between the three governing parties.
The governing alliance is mired in allegations of corruption. Another source of discontent is the absence so far of a special arrangement for Gibraltar, which was sought after Brexit. The overseas territory is heavily dependent on the European Union's single market.
Gibraltar's low taxes make it a financial and online gambling paradise - while also being a bone of contention between Madrid and London for more than three centuries.
Britain took possession of the tiny territory in 1704. Spain considers it to be illegally occupied.
Source: Qatar Tribune
