The former leader of the GSD Sir Peter Caruana has endorsed Keith Azopardi in the party’s upcoming leadership election.

Sir Peter cites Mr Azopardi’s government and ministerial experience saying that he is “equipped to lead Gibraltar domestically and to uphold and promote Gibraltar’s self-government and external issues, which are vital to Gibraltar’s long-term economic and political prosperity and security.”

This is his statement in full:

“The current leadership election in the GSD provides the party with a further and vital opportunity to re-affirm and assure its status as one of Gibraltar’s two principal political parties, able to serve Gibraltar’s future needs in both government and opposition as the electorate may from time to time decide. The GSD represents a shared vision and values for what Gibraltar is and should be and how it should be governed.

“It is a sign of the party’s continuing solidity and political maturity that there is a leadership contest between political colleagues. In choosing between the two candidates, party members will, I am sure, be hoping that whichever of the two wins, they will both serve the party together. Both have obvious qualities. Together they are a solid core of a future electoral team.

“Roy Clinton has stepped in with considerable skill to fill the leadership gap left by Danny Feetham’s resignation. He has in particular masterfully articulated, in a way that people can understand and relate to, the issues that arise in relation to Gibraltar’s public finances.

“Keith Azopardi was a longstanding member of the party and a successful, leading minister in past governments that it has formed. He left the GSD over a disagreement of principle about its merger with the then Labour Party and subsequently stood for election with a new party, now defunct. I have never thought that he ever abandoned the GSD vision and values, and I am delighted that he has now returned to his natural political home.

“At this time, and given where we are in the current political cycle, the GSD needs to field its strongest possible candidate for the Office of Chief Minister at the next general elections if we are to secure the Party’s prosperity into the future and once again become the preferred option for government.

“The electorate rightly believes that the role of Chief Minister requires a wide range of skills and the maximum possible experience of Gibraltar’s public affairs. This is vital for the promotion and defence of the full range of Gibraltar’s important and essential interests.

“For this reason, I believe that Keith Azopardi is the better and stronger of the two candidates for leadership of the GSD, and I therefore support his candidacy. He has experience of party political leadership, of ministerial office in both social and economic ministries, of public finances and is also an experienced and committed constitutionalist. He is thus well experienced and equipped to lead Gibraltar domestically and to uphold and promote Gibraltar’s self-government and external issues, which are vital to Gibraltar’s long-term economic and political prosperity and security.”