Falkland Islands general election, 2013

Falkland Islands

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Politics and government of
the Falkland Islands

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The Next Falkland Islands general election will elect all eight members of the Legislative Assembly (five from the Stanley constituency and three from the Camp constituency) through universal suffrage, with the Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands acting as returning officer. It will be the second election since the new Constitution came into force replacing the Legislative Council (which had existed since the 1840s) with the Legislative Assembly.

Timing and procedure

Under the Constitution of the Falkland Islands, the Legislative Assembly must be dissolved by the Governor four years after the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly following the last election (unless the Executive Council advises the Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly sooner). An election must then take place within 70 days of the dissolution.[1]

The first meeting of the current Legislative Assembly took place on 10 November 2009,[2] meaning the Legislative Assembly must be dissolved by midnight on 11 November 2013 and an election must take place before 20 January 2014. However, if recent precedent is followed, the Executive Council is likely to ask the Governor for an early dissolution and an election to take place sometime in November 2013 (four years after the last election). Following the British tradition, elections conventionally take place on a Thursday.

Incumbent members

See also: :Category:Falkland Islands MLAs 2009– and Falkland Islands general election, 2009
Member Constituency
Richard Sawle Stanley
Gavin Short Stanley
Barry Elsby[a] Stanley
Jan Cheek Stanley
Mike Summers[b] Stanley
Roger Edwards Camp
Sharon Halford Camp
Ian Hansen[c] Camp

a. ^ Barry Elsby was elected in a by-election on 15 December 2011, which filled the seat vacated by Emma Edwards.

b. ^ Mike Summers was elected in a by-election on 23 June 2011, which filled the seat vacated by Glenn Ross.

c. ^ Ian Hansen joined the Legislative Assembly on 15 December 2011, being the only candidate in a by-election which filled the seat vacated by Bill Luxton.

References

  1. ^ "Official text of the Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008" (PDF). falklands.gov.fk. 1 January 2009. http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/The%20Falkland%20Islands%20Constitution%20Order%202008.pdf#page=25. Retrieved 2011-12-31. "33.—(1) A general election shall be held at such time after every dissolution of the Legislative Assembly as the Governor shall appoint by proclamation published in the Gazette; but the date so appointed shall not be more than 70 days after the date of dissolution... (2) The Governor shall dissolve the Legislative Assembly at the expiration of four years from the date when the Assembly first meets after any general election, unless it has been sooner dissolved." 
  2. ^ "Record of the Meeting of the Legislative Assembly held in Stanley on 10 November 2009" (PDF). falklands.gov.fk. 10 November 2009. http://www.falklands.gov.fk/assembly/documents/Legislative%20Assembly%20%20Record%2010%2011%2009.pdf. Retrieved 2011-12-31.