Peter Caruana
Peter Richard Caruana QC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Chief Minister of Gibraltar | |
| Assumed office May 17, 1996 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Deputy | Joe Holliday |
| Preceded by | Joe Bossano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1956 Gibraltar |
| Nationality | British (Gibraltarian) |
| Political party | Gibraltar Social Democrats |
| Spouse | Cristina (née Triay) |
| Children | Michael Georgina Philippa Patrick Timothy Nicola James |
| Residence(s) | 10/3 Irish Town, Gibraltar[1] |
| Alma mater | Christian Brothers School Grace Dieu Manor School Ratcliffe College Queen Mary, University of London Council of Legal Education |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Website | Office of the Chief Minister |
Peter Richard Caruana, QC (born 15 October 1956) is a Gibraltarian politician, and has been Chief Minister of Gibraltar since 1996, when his party, the Gibraltar Social Democrats (GSD), first came to power. His party was re-elected to office in 2000, 2003 and 2007. He is a barrister by profession and was appointed a Queen's Counsel for Gibraltar in 1998.
Early and personal life
Caruana was born in Gibraltar and is of Maltese and Italian descent. He was educated in Gibraltar and the United Kingdom, first attending the Christian Brothers School (Gibraltar), and then Grace Dieu Manor School and the independent Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire, and finally Queen Mary, University of London and the Council of Legal Education. As a young boy he had an accident with a slingshot from which resulted in him needing a glass eye. Before serving as Chief Minister he was a partner in the law firm Triay & Triay. His leisure interests are golf and political and current affairs. He is married to Cristina, daughter of Joseph Triay, a local barrister.[2]
Politics
The GSD which he now leads, is robustly against any transfer of sovereignty to Spain, but remains in favour of safe dialogue.[3] As Chief Minister, Caruana consistently refused to attend bi-lateral talks between the United Kingdom and Spain as part of the UK delegation, on the basis that the interests of the Gibraltarians were not protected, and he did not want to give any measure of legitimacy to talks over which Gibraltar had no control.
Prior to being elected to Government his political career progressed steadily. In 1990, Caruana became member of the Gibraltar Social Democrats. One year later, he became leader of the party and in May 1991 gained a seat in the House of Assembly by winning Gibraltar's first contested by-election. In January 1992, Caruana led his party to the position of official opposition by winning seven seats in the House of Assembly. Finally, in 1996, he led the party to win in the general election in May and became Chief Minister of Gibraltar.
In 2002, he called a referendum on the subject of the proposed joint sovereignty deal, which led to it being abandoned.
In December 2004 the principle of tripartite talks, with the Government of Gibraltar as an equal party with the UK and Spain, was finally recognised, largely as a result of his involvement. This resulted in the Cordoba Agreement which improved communications between Gibraltar and Spain with direct flights from Madrid, and in Spain finally recognising Gibraltar's international dialling code, thereby ending a long-standing dispute.
In November 2007 he was returned to office for a fourth term .
See also
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