Gibraltar constitutional referendum, 2006

A referendum on the proposed new constitution of Gibraltar was held on 30 November 2006. [ [http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9064 Gibraltar's Constitution referendum November 30] Merco Press, 25 October 2006] After being accepted by voters, the new constitution came into effect on the 2nd of January 2007.

The motion proposed and approved was:

"In exercise of your right to self-determination, do you approve and accept the proposed new Constitution for Gibraltar? YES NO" [ [http://www.gibnews.net/cgi-bin/gn_print.pl/?GOGX061024_1.xml Constitution Referendum Motion] Government of Gibraltar ]

For their part, the Government of Gibraltar promoting the Yes vote had issued a leaflet in which the Chief Minister states:

"I wholeheartedly commend to you this new Constitution which is the culmination of many years of political effort by the Gibraltar Government, other elected members of the House representing the Opposition, and others. This new Constitution modernises the quality of democracy in Gibraltar (and the democratic rights of the people of Gibraltar), bringing them much closer to normal European standards, by upgrading and modernising the status, role and functions of the democratic institutions of the people of Gibraltar." [ [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/constitution/new_constitution/ConstitutionExplanatoryBooklet.pdf "A new constitution for Gibraltar" Explanatory Booklet] Government of Gibraltar]

Results

Turnout was 60.4 per cent. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/12/01/europe/EU_GEN_Gibraltar_Constitution.php Gibraltar voters approve new constitution giving the Rock more powers] International Herald Tribune, 1 December 2006] It has been speculated that the relatively low margin with which the constitution passed was a response to the unpopularity of the Cordoba Accords among some segments of the electorate, and a confusion between these two issues. [cite web|url=http://www.gibraltar.gi/locals/news.php?action=view_article&article=1711|title=Political turmoil|accessdate=2008-09-23|date=28 November, 2006|publisher=Panorama]

Campaigns

Various campaigns, both supporting and rejecting the proposition, were in place since the announcement of the referendum. The Voice of Gibraltar Group ran a campaign urging people turn out and to vote.

References

External links

* [http://www.gibnet.com/texts/con06d.htm Full text of the Constitution]
* [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/constitution/new_constitution/ConstitutionExplanatoryBooklet.pdf Explanatory Booklet published by Government]
* [http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/latest_news/press_releases/2007/45-2007-Draft-BILL.pdf Draft government legislation replacing references to "House of Assembly" with "Gibraltar Parliament"]