Casemates Square, known as the site of military parades in Gibraltar, became this Wednesday, September 10, the heart of the territory's National Day celebrations. The people of Gibraltar gathered to celebrate their identity, which results from a blend of all the peoples who have inhabited this Rock under British sovereignty since 1713, waving their flags and participating in traditional festivities. A delegation of British politicians from across the parliamentary spectrum attended the event, as is tradition.
This year marks a historic date: it is Gibraltar's first National Day without the Fence, the border barrier that separated the territory from the rest of Spain. The historic agreement that came into force on July 15 allowed the full opening of the border, representing a significant change in relations between Gibraltar and Spain after decades of border control.
The celebration also has a farewell character. It will be the last National Day with Fabián Picardo as Chief Minister of the Rock. Picardo announced his retirement from the front lines of politics after fifteen years at the helm of the Gibraltar Government, closing a political era that left deep marks on the administration of the territory.
The Gibraltar authorities claim the results achieved with the agreement: not a single centimeter of British sovereignty was yielded. The speech planned for the occasion will be emotional, but also assertive, celebrating the achievements obtained through the negotiations that enabled this new phase in border relations.
