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Gibraltar goes to the polls amidst concern over Brexit

gibraltarVoters in Gibraltar had the chance to have their say in the general elections held on Thursday.

Among the leading campaign issues were the economy and concern over the possible British exit from the EU.

The centrist alliance, headed by the incumbent Fabian Picardo, appears to be in the lead against the opposition Social Democrats, if polls conducted by local media prove accurate.

Picardo’s GSLP/Liberals have held power in a time of relative prosperity for Gibraltar in which the electronic gambling and the offshore finance sectors have grown.

The alliance holds that strong growth over the last four year has enabled them to achieve key targets such as a new university, bank, school and housing.

The opposition claims that the level of debt is unsustainable and leaves Gibraltar at risk.

But both sides are in agreement that the UK should stay within the European Union and that access to the single market and freedom of movement are crucial for Gibraltar.

"We have fought to ensure that Gibraltar is able to vote in the Brexit referendum so that we can influence that decision," Picardo said.   

"Our primary challenge as a people after the election is, therefore, to work to keep the UK in the EU."

Picardo says he has had to be “tough on occasions” when dealing with Spain as there have been spats over fishing rights and law enforcement in the surrounding waters as well as the smuggling of cheap cigarettes from Gibraltar into Spain and the low-tax regime in Gibraltar.

The territory, measuring 6.7-square-kilometres (2.6-square-miles), has some 32,000 residents.

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