Observers said the vote was more about a desire for a change in leadership style than in political philosophy, with Picardo seen as promoting an image of youthful openness, and seeking to portray Caruana as autocratic. Gibraltar’s economy has been little touched by the downturn that has affected other European economies in recent years, including those of both the UK and Spain, with a low unemployment rate and a budget surplus.
Named minister for Financial Services, as well as such related areas as Gaming and Telecommunications, was Gilbert Licudi, while Joseph Garcia is the new deputy chief minister.
As always in Gibraltar, the central issue for many, both during and after the election, has been what if any difference the new chief minister will make to the matter of Britain’s claim to the Gibraltar peninsula, which Spain has fiercely disputed for more than 300 years.
Picardo won the election with just a 2% margin of the vote, according to a report in the Gibraltar Chronicle, which said that the turnout – of 17,917 voters, or 82.5% – was the third highest in a Gibraltar election since 1980.
As Gibraltar was getting used to the idea of a new political era this morning, Gibraltar media outlets were reporting that a former chief minister, Sir Bob Peliza, had died in hospital. He was 91, and had been chief minister of Gibraltar between 1969 and 1972.
