Does Picardo's Leadership of the GSLP Really Herald Political Change?

The change of GSLP leader and consequent change in Leader of the Opposition has now been cemented. That transfer of leadership alone marks a sea change in politics in Gibraltar. The new leader foretells more fundamental changes if one goes by the press reports of Fabian Picardo's acceptance speech. He has drawn the election lines in the sand by signaling a reversal of roles. The GSLP have taken the political initiative. The GSD now have to prove their collective political acumen and not rely on the perceived reputation and ability of a single individual, Peter Caruana.

There is clearly a reversal of positions.The GSLP, once seen as the pariah of the UK, now becomes the party that confidently proclaims "The GSLP values the relationship with the British Crown. And this GSLP Chief Minister will extend a hand of partnership and deep friendship to the UK." Conversely Mr Picardo has picked up on an issue highlighted in this blog, in my last piece, that there is evidence, following the recent visit of the Minister for Europe, that relations between the GSD Government, i.e. Peter Caruana, and the UK seem strained. Mr Picardo put it in terms that "... the state of relations with the UK is not as rosy as Mr Caruana would have us believe."

The continuation of the trilateral process on the basis that it is without any sovereignty price accurately reflects the thinking of the vast majority of Gibraltar, as does the principle that the issue of sovereignty is a unilateral issue. This is recognised in the Despatch and Preamble to the 2006 Constitution. The unknown is the reaction to this reality from Spain. It should be pleased with a continuation of the trilateral process. That process has brought benefits to the immediate hinterland, which is suffering economically massively. Spain's reaction cannot be surprise. Spain is well aware of the views of Gibraltar as reflected in Mr Picardo's speech. It is Spain's actions that will determine the longer term feelings of the people of Gibraltar. Impatience on their part is simply it scoring an own goal. Spain should ponder long and hard before instigating any aggressive moves against Gibraltar, any such action will prove counterproductive to it.

The announcement of the pursuit by the GSLP of real democracy is to be welcomed but falls short of what is needed. Mr Picardo asserts cabinet government, which would be a huge improvement on the rule by one person of today. That is half the picture, dealing only with the executive side of government. The other half is the separation of powers between executive and parliamentary government and adherence to the rule of law.  Separation of powers is only achievable with electoral and parliamentary reforms. I know Mr Picardo has plans on these fronts but I am not sure whether those plans will go as far as I am espousing. Hopefully they will be included in the GSLP/Libs manifesto and will be sufficiently radical.

Another breath of fresh air on the democratisation  front is his statement that " GSLP MInisters will not be heads of department - they will be ministers in charge of policy". This statement is the very essence of the philosophy of empowerment of the civil service that I have written about in this blog. Mr Picardo joins up this promise with the promise of support for training and development of public servants to provide the best public service possible. These two issues go hand in hand, the former will not work without immediate and attentive application of the latter.

Many of these announcements by Mr Picardo are policies espoused and pushed by the GSD in the 1996 election (but quickly forgotten and not implemented by them) now they have been adapted and modernised by the GSLP. They have been adopted, thankfully and become the property of and bedrock of the GSLP's election campaign: good relations with the UK, fair, open and transparent government, collective responsibility, political freedom and extending a hand of friendship to Spain whilst retaining the unilateral right to decide on the issue of sovereignty.

I really do hope that Mr Picardo's prediction of a dirty campaign is not the tactic that the GSD will adopt. Gibraltar deserves better. Even if the GSD react as predicted, I would hope the GSLP will stick to what Mr Picardo has said "... policies and ideas" resorting only to a defence by them of any accusations made by the GSD. This is not to say that any provable issues of bad governance by the GSD should be buried. Bad governance is an issue of public interest and importance that politicians have a duty to voters to reveal and stop.

Also, any cynical policy or acts of the GSD Government, such as handing out goodies, at our expense as taxpayers, for their selfish electoral advantage just before an election, should be seen by voters as just that, cynical. Any government in power can do that.  It is not good governance. It does not benefit the commonweal of Gibraltar. Any such behaviour is not a reason to re-elect the same party, presently the GSD, into Government. The GSLP or any other party could play the same cynical game were they to be in or get into power. It is not a factor that should be weighed by voters as favouring an incumbent government, today the GSD. The question that needs to be asked is, if they can give away "goodies" just before an election, why have they deprived voters of the benefit of all those "goodies" during the rest of the time that the pertinent party, today the GSD, has been in government?

The GSD have to find political clear blue water between themselves and the GSLP. Based on the manner in which the GSD have governed and on the policies that they have in fact implemented (not the ones that they have preached and not given effect to) they have a difficult political task finding clear blue water that will convince the electorate that they should be returned to Government. Where did their promise of good relations with the UK go? Where did their promise of open and transparent  government go? Where did their promise of democratic reforms go? Where did their promise of no fear and no repercussions for expressing political views and preferences go?

Ask me, I am no longer a member of the Financial Services Commission, for expressing political views, and despite his denial on GBC, Mr Caruana did play his part in the circumstances that led to my resignation. I have confirmation that, prior to the consultation on participation in politics that led to my resignation, the Chief Minister wrote to the Financial Services Commission on that subject. I have requested but have been denied a copy of this letter, by the the Financial Services Commission (despite this Commission preaching open and transparent good governance for their licensees) and also by the Data Protection Commissioner (I wonder why, might it be because my request involves the Chief Minster?).

I am told by the independent  Data Protection Commissioner that Mr Caruana's letter exists but that he will not take steps to have it disclosed to me despite that it is "personal data". It refers to and concerns me in my capacity as a member of the Financial Services Commission. I have asked Mr Caruana in writing for a copy of the letter also. Two weeks on from my written request, I am still waiting to receive even an acknowledgment.

This letter must be critical of me, otherwise why the reticence to disclose it? Might it compromise the Chief Minister's statements that he made on GBC shortly after my resignation on the subject of "cousin Robert's" (me for those who do not know) right to freedom of speech and the independence of the Financial Services Commission? There again, surely that cannot be the reason, both the Financial Services Commission and the Data Protection Commissioner are independent of the Chief Minister and act independently. I wonder why they are all so shy of giving me a copy of the Chief Ministers letter?

I have voted GSD in every election since 1996. I cannot bring myself to vote GSD again. I wil be standing as an Independent candidate but I will have 9 other votes. I will use them in the manner that I am urging all voters to use their votes, namely, to vote for strong individual candidates irrespective of which party each such candidate is standing for. If you value democracy, if you want real change and you want to force consensus government in order to improve democracy in and for Gibraltar do not "block vote" for one party. Use each of your 10 votes wisely to pick and vote for the best and strongest candidates, whatever their individual party allegiances. Force real change by voting for good strong candidates and thus force them to work together for the best interests of Gibraltar.

My conclusion is that Fabian Picardo is another and long awaited catalyst for much needed political change in Gibraltar. He and his party's candidature, conjoined with that of the Liberals, will give the electorate added and good choices. The reality is that if the electorate does not flex its democratic muscle by voting for individuals, there is a real risk that no substantive electoral change or reform of Parliament will be enacted in the next term of Parliament. This is what has always happened in the past. We should learn this lesson from history. If these fundamental changes, to deliver greater democracy, are not forced on our politicians by voters splitting their vote and thus sending a message to our politicians, even if the GSLP are elected into Government in two terms of Parliament, Gibraltar politically and democratically is likely to be back where it is today, with presidential government by Chief Minister. That said, a change of government for two terms of Parliament, with the promise and hope of some reform, is a better option right now than no change at all.