Jun 23 - GSD Say Spokesmen Were Chosen To Speak On Behalf Of The Party

Written by YGTV Team on 23 June 2015.

The GSD has said the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo appears intent on undermining freedom of speech after the Government raised its concerns regarding the party's  use of unelected spokespersons.  

A statement from the Opposition read: "The GSD is bemused by the latest attempt by the ‘Government’ to prevent it from exercising its basic civil and constitutional right to freedom of expression. The latest so called ‘Government’ press release of 22^nd June 2015 suggests that no one who is not a Member of Parliament can or should speak for the Opposition. Implicit in this statement is that GSD members cannot express political opinions unless elected into Parliament. This argument just needs to be read for its absurdity to be seen and understood. It is the civil and constitutional right of everyone, including members of any political party, to express themselves in a democracy.

"Freedom of speech is not a right that Mr Picardo can attempt to limit to the elected Members of Parliament. Why does he want to prevent others from freely and democratically expressing their views? One answer is that he is fearful of the validity of the criticisms being leveled. Mr Picardo should know that it is this freedom of speech that is precisely one cornerstone of democracy.

"The Press Release further suggests that the public may be mistaken into believing that these spokesmen are speaking for the Opposition. That will not be the case but anyway, so what? These spokesmen are expressing the views and opinions of the GSD. Their views and opinions are as valid as those of any other person, especially in the run up to an election.

"The GSLP/Liberal position as evidenced by that Press Release demonstrates a similar contempt for basic civil and constitutional rights and of the public which they show in their explanations of public finances. In that field they have a fondness for lack of openness and transparency and the use of smoke and mirrors that leads to the creation of a misleading impression of the state of the public debt.

"What is insidious also is that the offending press release is issued by and in the name of the Government of Gibraltar and not the GSLP/Liberal Alliance, which demonstrates the very hypocrisy of the press release. The press release raises exclusively what are party political issues and not Government of Gibraltar issues. Those engaged with the application of the Rule of Law should take careful note of this. They should take steps to correct the use of Government of Gibraltar resources for party political purposes. Not doing so gives rise to greater occurrences of what cannot be described as ‘good government’, which is what the Constitution requires.”

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