General elections were held in Gibraltar on 24 March 1988. The elections were a watershed in Gibraltar politics, as they saw the first win by the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP), led by Joe Bossano, whose candidates took 58% of the popular vote and eight of the fifteen seats available in the Gibraltar House of Assembly. Bossano's party took control away from the Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACR), under outgoing Chief Minister Adolfo Canepa. The AACR had been the dominant political party in Gibraltar politics for over forty years and had won every election but one since 1945. After this, it was never to win another general election, while Bossano was to remain in office continuously for eight years, from 25 March 1988 to 17 May 1996.

Quick Facts 15 seats in the House of Assembly 8 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1988 Gibraltar general election

← 1984 24 March 1988 1992 →
15 seats in the House of Assembly 8 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Joe Bossano Adolfo Canepa Party Socialist Labour AACR Seats won 8 7 Popular vote 60,626 30,562 Percentage 58.22% 29.35%
Chief Minister before election Adolfo Canepa AACR Elected Chief Minister Joe Bossano Socialist Labour

Close