Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

Europe

Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory)

 Flag of Gibraltar

Last reviewed: 24 February 2009

Country information

Politics

Constitutional status

Gibraltar has a considerable measure of devolved government. The 1969 Gibraltar Constitution Order formalised the devolution to local Ministers of responsibility for a wide range of 'Defined Domestic Matters'. The Governor, the personal representative of HM The Queen, retained direct responsibility for all matters not specifically allocated to local Ministers.

In 1999, work began to modernise this Constitution. The starting point was the invitation in the 1999 White Paper ("Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories") to OT Governments to submit proposals for constitutional reform. In July 1999, the Gibraltar House of Assembly created a Select Committee to report on constitutional reform. The Committee published its proposals in January 2002 and the British Government formally received them in December 2003. These proposals were subsequently discussed between delegations from the UK and Gibraltar in November/December 2004, September 2005 and 2006.

On 27 March 2006, a joint statement was made by the UK and Gibraltar, announcing the successful conclusion of the Gibraltar Constitutional negotiations. On 2 January 2007, the new Constitution came into force, after it had been approved by over 60% of those who voted in a referendum on 30 November 2006. The Constitution thoroughly modernises the UK-Gibraltar relationship. Key elements include limiting the responsibilities of the Governor to the areas of external affairs, defence, internal security and the public service, thereby reversing the previous practice and giving Gibraltar much greater control over its internal affairs. The House of Assembly is restyled the Gibraltar Parliament, and may determine its own size. New commissions will be created to handle appointments in the Judiciary and Public Affairs, and the creation of a new Police Authority for Gibraltar will give Gibraltar a greater input into policing matters.

The current Governor is Lt General Sir Robert Fulton KBE. He took up his appointment on 27 September 2006. Gibraltar's legislature, the Parliament, consists of a Speaker and 17  members. Elections take place every four years. British Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Overseas Citizens and British Subjects who fulfil residence requirements, who are over 18 years of age and who are not subject to any legal incapacity, are entitled to vote. The territory consists of a single constituency. There is a block voting system under which each elector may vote for up to 10 candidates. The last elections were held on 11 October 2007. The current Chief Minister of Gibraltar is Peter Caruana QC. Mr Caruana's party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD), has an absolute majority (ten seats) in the Parliament. The seven other seats are held by an alliance of the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), led by Joe Bossano (Chief Minister from 1988 until 1996) and the Gibraltar Liberal Party, led by Joseph Garcia.

Government

Governor's Office

His Excellency The Governor and Commander-in-Chief: Lt Gen Sir Robert Fulton KBE
The Convent
Gibraltar
Tel: (00)(350) 20045440
Fax: (00)(350) 20047823
Email: Enquiry.Gibraltar@fco.gov.uk

Deputy Governor's Office

Deputy Governor: The Hon Lesley Pallett
The Convent
Gibraltar
Tel: (00)(350) 20049473
Fax: (00)(350) 20047823

Chief Minister's Office

Chief Minister: The Hon Peter Caruana QC
No 6 Convent Place
Gibraltar
Tel: (00)(350) 20070071
Fax: (00)(350) 20076396

Other government departments

Ministry for Trade, Industry and Communications
Ministry for Education, Employment and Training
Ministry for Heritage, Culture, Youth and Sport
Ministry for Environment, Roads and Utilities
Ministry for Housing
Ministry for Social and Civic Affairs
Ministry for Health
Treasury

Elections

The next elections are due to be called before the end of October 2011.

Human rights

Overseas Territories are expected to comply with their obligations under the international human rights instruments that have been extended to them. The following major Conventions apply in Gibraltar:

  • European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
  • International Covenant on Economic and Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
  • UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT)
  • UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

The UK is encouraging Gibraltar to accept the extension of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the earliest opportunity. The Government of Gibraltar has already expressed its willingness to extend the latter, as well as its Optional Protocol, subject to the necessary legislation being passed.

Country information

Pick Another Country :

Share this with:

Travel Advice

Travel Advice: Gibraltar 

See Also


Useful Links



Contacts

Gibraltar, Office of the Governor

Address:

Office of the Governor
The Convent
Main Street
Gibraltar

Telephone:

(350) 200 45440

Fax:

(350) 200 47823

Email: enquiry.gibraltar@fco.gov.uk

Email: csro@gibtelcom.net

Office hours:

GMT:
Mon-Fri: 0800-1625
(July-August): Mon-Fri: 0730-1330
Local Time:
Mon-Fri: 0900-1725
(July-August): Mon-Fri: 0830-1430