Progressive Democratic Party (Gibraltar)

Progressive Democratic Party
Leader Nick Cruz
Founded 7 June 2006
Dissolved 31 August 2013[1]
Split from Gibraltar Social Democrats
Headquarters Irish Town, Gibraltar
Ideology Liberal conservatism, Economic liberalism[2][3]
Political position Centre-right
European affiliation None
International affiliation None
Colours Red, White, Blue
Website
PDP.gi

The Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was a liberal conservative political party from Gibraltar.

The party was the third political party and the only party to sit on the centre-right in Gibraltar. Despite poor election results, it garnered growing support from the public and was seen as the 'alternative opposition'. The PDP was the only party campaigning for "a Gibraltar freely associated to the United Kingdom" and envisaged "a journey through the recognition of our right to independence".[4] The party was also the only political party in Gibraltar that have openly committed to implementing a means testing system in government housing[5]

The PDP described itself as "the only real choice for an alternative, authentic, centrist government which has vision, is progressive and is in tune with the aspirations of Gibraltarians for stable and moderate liberal politics."[6]

History

Founders
Keith Azopardi, co-founder of the PDP 
Nick Cruz, co-founder of the PDP 
Gibraltar
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Gibraltar

The party was co-founded by Gibraltarian lawyers Keith Azopardi and Nick Cruz among other members in June 2006. The PDP has been described as a splinter group of the Gibraltar Social Democrats. This is because Azopardi and Cruz were both leading figures in the GSD who resigned due to disillusionment with the GSD party following a merger with the Gibraltar Labour Party.

Marie-Lou Guerrero and Leo Olivero left the party in November 2006 in opposition to the party's "yes" stance on the referendum on Gibraltar's new constitution.[7]

The Party decided to support the constitution despite reservations "because it represented a massive leap forward from the 1969 constitution and because it put us in a much better position to then take the next steps."[8]

On 6 June 2012, Keith Azopardi stepped down as leader of the PDP.[9] At an AGM on 3 December 2012, Azopardi was elected as Party Chairman and Nick Cruz as Party Leader.[10]

On 22 July, the executive committee met and decided, by overwhelming majority, to call it a day. A press release issued on 30 July 2013 confirmed that the party would be "wound up" with effect as from 31 August 2013. An EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) will be held to pass the resolution and party funds will be donated to charity.[11]

Policy

The Progressive Democratic Party declared that it was founded on several basic pillars;

Elections

In the 2007 election to the newly named (and re-organized) Gibraltar Parliament, the party won 3.75% of the popular vote and no seats.[12]

In the 2011 election, the party won approx. 4.36% of the popular vote and no seats.[13]

In the 2013 by-election, leader Nick Cruz won exactly 7.00% of the popular vote.[14]

Election results

Parliament of Gibraltar

Election year # of
overall votes		 % of
overall vote		 # of
overall seats won		 ±
2007 5,799 3.75
0 / 17
 New
2011 7,622 4.36
0 / 17
 Steady
2013 (by-election)* 688 7.00
0 / 1
0 / 17
 Steady
*The 2013 by-election in Gibraltar was to fill in a seat vacated by then-GSLP MP, Charles Arthur Bruzon, who died that year. Hence, the composition bar on this row would only signify whether or not a member of a particular political party has won the seat. If that particular member had won the seat, then the entire bar would be colored in.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.gibnews.net/cgi-bin/gn_view.pl/?PDPG130730_1.xml
  2. ↑ https://dl.dropbox.com/u/98308799/pdp%2Bmanifesto.pdf (Page 19)
  3. ↑ http://www.pdp.gi/about-us/
  4. ↑ "PDP Leader's National Day Statement".
  5. ↑ http://www.gbc.gi/television/tv-player.php?programme=216&episode=5526
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/PDPGibraltar
  7. ↑ Marilou Guerrero, Leo Olivero. "A 'Yes' vote not in Gibraltar's best interest, say Marilou Guerrero and Leo Olivero". Panorama (Gibraltar). Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  8. ↑ "The Constitutional Future of Gibraltar". The Progressive Democratic Party. www.gibraltarnewsonline.com. 2008-06-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  9. ↑ "Personal statement by Keith Azopardi's stepping down as Leader".
  10. ↑ http://www.pdp.gi/2012/12/pdp-annual-general-meeting-2012/
  11. ↑ http://www.gibnews.net/cgi-bin/gn_view.pl/?PDPG130730_1.xml
  12. ↑ http://www.parliament.gi/images/parliamentary_election_results/general_election_results_11_october_2007.pdf
  13. ↑ http://www.parliament.gi/images/parliamentary_election_results/general_election_results_8_december_2011%20.pdf
  14. ↑ http://www.parliament.gi/images/parliamentary_election_results/by_election_results_4_july_2013.pdf
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