Political position Centre | Founded 1991 (1991) | |
 | ||
Headquarters 95 Irish Town, Gibraltar Ideology LiberalismSocial liberalism | ||
The Liberal Party of Gibraltar (Libs) is a liberal political party in Gibraltar. It was founded in 1991 as the Gibraltar National Party and is led by Dr. Joseph Garcia.
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Policy
In line with most liberal parties, the party describe their political philosophy as being based on notions of people deciding their own future, and are committed to Gibraltarian self-determination regarding constitutional arrangements.
The party believes in "freedom, responsibility, tolerance, social justice and equality of opportunity: these are the central values of liberalism, and they remain the principles on which an open society must be built. These principles require a careful balance of strong civil societies, democratic government, free markets, and international cooperation".
The party makes its stance on economic policy very clear, stating that "open societies need open markets. A liberal, open and tolerant society requires a market economy. Political freedom and economic freedom belong together".
Elections
In the 1992 election to the Gibraltar House of Assembly, the party (as the GNP) won 4.7%% of the popular vote and no seats.
In the 1996 election the GNP won 4.68% of the popular vote and no seats.
In the 1999 by-election, following the death of GSLP Opposition MP Robert Mor, Liberal Party leader Dr. Joseph Garcia won 51.46% of the popular vote and the seat. He was the first joint GSLP/Liberal candidate to contest an election.
In the 2000 election the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.95% of the popular vote and 2 seats.
In the 2003 election the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.61% of the popular vote and 2 seats.
In the 2007 election to the newly named (and re-organized) Gibraltar Parliament, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 13.65% of the popular vote and 3 seats.
In the 2011 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 14.64% of the popular vote and 3 seats forming the new Government of Gibraltar.
In the 2013 by-election, following the death of Housing Minister Charles Bruzon (GSLP), the Liberal Party backed the GSLP candidate Albert Isola, who has won 49.84% of the popular vote to fill in the vacant seat.
In the 2015 election, the party won (in alliance with the GSLP) 20.61% of the popular vote and 3 seats.
European Parliament
Contested in 2014 as a joint ticket with the Liberal Democrats.
Affiliations
The Liberal Party of Gibraltar is a member of the Liberal International and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, having joined the latter in November 2014. It is also a 'Sister Party' of the United Kingdom Liberal Democrats and contests the South-West England constituency at European Parliamentary elections on a joint ticket with them taking place six on the party list.