MAIN Opposition party Gibraltar Social Democrats will announce on Monday its ten candidates for the 2023 general election, its executive committee said.
GSD leader Keith Azopardi said he expects ‘a very competitive process’ for the ten places up for grabs on the party’s election slate for October 12.
But the interim leader of Gibraltar’s other political party, Together Gibraltar’s Nicky Calamaro, said his executive was ‘struggling’ to find candidates to field at the election.
“People giving up their time and putting their careers on the line is really tough for their families, so we will see what we can put forward,” Calamaro told GBC.
For the GSD, it will be the fourth election in a row in which they will try to throw out the incumbent GSLP/Liberals from office.
“I fully expect a very competitive process for the selection of 10 candidates as the GSD team for Government,” its leader Keith Azopardi said on social media.
“I welcome this as it shows the Party has been going from strength to strength.
“Now is the time for change and the galvanising force for change is evident in the interest shown in the Party and the grassroots supporting we are getting.”
He said: “People are now going to have the chance to reject a tired government that is the cause of the ills of a lot of people, whether it is for health, housing or money in your pocket.”
GSD party members will now have until Saturday to nominate candidates.
Its executive will then announce the results of the vote next Monday.
But at the GSLP headquarters, caretaker Chief Minister Fabian Picardo was upbeat.
In a meeting of its activists, full of different ethnic groups that make up the Gibraltar community, Picardo revealed that an election manifesto was nearing completion.
He said the GSLP/Liberal coalition would introduce new faces to replace departing members like Gilbert Licudi.
Some names that have been touted around include Nigel Feetham and Gemma Vasquez, but this is only speculation at this point.
“People will be able to see that of all the political offers that they are going to have at this general election, the one with the most vigour, the most energy and best ideas for the future, let alone the best record of already delivering in the past, will be the GSLP/Liberal team,” Picardo told GBC.
Gibraltar citizens who want to vote can check their names in the election register on the parliament.gi website.
There they will also be able arrange a postal vote.
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