# Next Gibraltar general election

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

## Background

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However, on 5 November 2024 Picardo rescinded his retirement plan, announcing on GBC that he would be standing for the next elections as party leader, subject to a vote of confidence by party membership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 Feetham subsequently rescinded his leadership bid, which resulted in Picardo being re-elected party leader unopposed.

## Electoral system

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.
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.

## Incumbent members (from 2023)

Note: Roles in Italics mean unofficial parliamentary roles made from the government by the ruling alliance after 2023. The Opposition announced that they would not create constituent roles.
| MP | Party | Parliament role(s) | Seeking re-election? |
| Joseph Garcia (since 1999) | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG) | Deputy Chief Minister (since 2011) Leader of LPG (since 1992) Constituency MP for the Lower Town | |
| Fabian Picardo (since 2003) | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Chief Minister (since December 2011) Leader of GSLP (since April 2011) Constituency MP for Moorish Castle, Calpe and the Upper Town | Yes |
| Keith Azopardi (1996-2003; since 2019) | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Leader of Opposition (since 2017) Leader of GSD (since 2017) | |
| Damon Bossino 2011-2015; since 2019) | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Housing, Lands & Transport | |
| Nigel Feetham | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Minister for Justice, Trade & Industry Constituency MP for Glacis Estate, Laguna Estate, Ocean Village and Bayside | |
| Gemma Arias-Vasquez | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Minister for Health, Care & Business Constituency MP for the Westside Area | |
| John Cortes (since 2011) | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change & Education Constituency MP for Alameda Estate and the South District | |
| Roy Clinton (since 2015) | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Finance & Value for Money (since 2015) | |
| Craig Sacarello | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Business, Trade, Industry, Utilities & Community | |
| Christian Santos | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture & Tourism Constituency MP for Varyl Begg Estate, Sir William Jackson Grove and Mid Harbours | |
| Patricia Orfila | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) | Minister for Housing Constituency MP for the area of Bayview, Cumberland, Nelson’s View, The Anchorage, Rosia Plaza, Rosia Dale and Europa Point | |
| Edwin Reyes (since 2007) | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Education, Employment & Culture | |
| Joelle Ladislaus | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Health & Justice | |
| Leslie Bruzon | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (LPG) | Minister for Industrial Relations, Civil Contingencies & Sport Constituency MP for the Eastside and Catalan Bay | |
| Joseph Bossano (since 1972) | GSLP–Liberal Alliance (GSLP) (since 1980) | Minister for Economic Development, Enterprise, Telecommunications & the Gibraltar Savings Bank Constituency MP with Special Responsibility for Senior Citizens | |
| Giovanni Origo | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Environment, Tourism, Youth & Equality | |
| Atrish Sanchez | Gibraltar Social Democrats | Shadow Minister for Care & Opportunity | |

## Parties and candidates

| Party or alliance | Party or alliance | Ideology | Current Seats | Slogan | Election Logo |
| | GSLP/Libs Alliance | Social Democracy, Social Liberalism | 9 | | |
| | GSD | Liberal Conservatism, British Unionism | 8 | | |