Belize's Limit On Prime Ministerial Terms

In Belize, the Prime Minister is the head of government and the leader of the majority political party in Parliament. There is no limit to the number of terms a Prime Minister can serve, and they are appointed by the governor-general, who acts on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet. The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, who has served since 12 November 2020. He is the fifth Belizean politician to hold the office of Prime Minister.

The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño

Briceño was born on 17 July 1960 in Orange Walk Town, Belize (then known as British Honduras). He graduated from Muffles College in 1978 and went on to obtain an associate degree in business administration from St. John's College in 1980. He later received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1985.

Briceño's political career began in 1993 when he was elected to the Belizean House of Representatives from the Orange Walk Central constituency. The following year, he successfully ran in the town council elections of Orange Walk Town and served as a member of the town council for two terms from 1994 to 2001. In 1994, he was also elected Co-Chairman of the PUP, and in 1996, he became the Deputy Party Leader. When the PUP won the 1998 elections, Briceño was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment.

During his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister, Briceño led a group of ministers known as the G-7 alliance, who advocated for various reforms, including the dismissal of Ralph Fonseca from the Cabinet. When their demands were not met, the group resigned, although Briceño was later given the additional portfolio of the Ministry of Finance. He also opposed a proposal by Prime Minister Said Musa to settle the country's Universal Health Services debt, which led to a demotion from his position. Briceño refused to accept a lesser post and resigned from the Cabinet in 2007.

Briceño continued to play an active role in politics, and in 2008, he was re-elected as one of the PUP's deputy leaders. Despite the PUP's defeat in the 2008 general election, Briceño retained his constituency of Orange Walk Central. The following year, he was elected as the leader of the PUP, defeating Francis Fonseca. However, he abruptly resigned from this position in 2011, citing health issues.

In 2015, a recording was made public in which Briceño criticised the 1998-2008 Musa government, accusing them of corruption and claiming that they had stolen "millions, tens of millions of dollars". Despite this incident, Briceño went on to lead the PUP to victory in the 2020 general election, defeating the United Democratic Party.

As Prime Minister, Briceño has made significant contributions to Belize's governance. In July 2021, his government passed legislation establishing a fixed seven-year term for the Governor-General of Belize. During the debate, he suggested that Belize should consider transitioning from a monarchy to a republic. Additionally, Briceño has had to navigate challenges, including contracting COVID-19 twice, first in November 2020 and then again in February 2022.

Belize's government is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy

Belize is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, with a multi-party system. The country's politics are dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party. The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, who assumed office on 12 November 2020.

The office of the Prime Minister is established by Section 37 of the Constitution of Belize. The Governor-General of Belize appoints a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader of the political party that holds a majority in the House. If no party has an overall majority, the Governor-General appoints a member who is likely to command the support of the majority. The Prime Minister's principal office is the Sir Edney Cain Building, in Belmopan.

The Prime Minister is the head of the government and the Cabinet, which is the primary executive organ of the government. The Cabinet is made up of Cabinet ministers, who are members of the majority political party in Parliament. They usually hold elected seats in the National Assembly concurrently with their Cabinet positions. Cabinet members can also be drawn from the Senate. The Prime Minister advises the Governor-General on the executive duties of the government and appoints the Cabinet.

The Belizean government is based on the British parliamentary system. The 1981 Constitution provides for a bicameral National Assembly, composed of an elected House of Representatives and an appointed Senate. Members of both the House and the Senate serve five-year terms. The Governor-General, a Belizean national who represents the British Crown, appoints the Prime Minister and the opposition leader.

The Governor-General is appointed by the King of Belize, who serves as the head of state. The current King of Belize is King Charles III, who has been on the throne since 8 September 2022. The King is represented in Belize by the Governor-General, who acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The current Governor-General of Belize is Froyla Tzalam, who has been in office since 27 May 2021.

The Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister

Belize is a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, with a multi-party system. The King of Belize, Charles III, is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The current Prime Minister of Belize is Johnny Briceño, who assumed office on 12 November 2020.

The Governor-General of Belize, Froyla Tzalam, acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the cabinet. The Governor-General appoints the Prime Minister, who is a member of the House of Representatives and the leader of the political party that holds the majority of the House's support. This process is established by section 37 of the Belize Constitution. The Prime Minister's office is located in the Sir Edney Cain Building in Belmopan.

The Governor-General is responsible for appointing members to the Senate, the upper house of the National Assembly. The Senate consists of 12 or 13 senators, plus the President of the Senate, who is chosen by the senators. The senators are appointed based on recommendations from various groups, including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and several councils and committees. The Governor-General plays a crucial role in the legislative process, as they receive and assent to Bills passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, turning them into Acts that form part of the Laws of Belize.

The Governor-General of Belize, Froyla Tzalam, is the country's third person to hold this position and the first Belizean woman to do so. She was appointed on 27 May 2021 and acts as the representative of King Charles III in the country. The Governor-General's role in appointing the Prime Minister and senators underscores the importance of this position in Belize's parliamentary democracy.

The Prime Minister's deputy is often from the largest political party in the House of Representatives

In Belize, the Prime Minister is the head of government and the country's multi-party system. The office of the Prime Minister is established by Section 37 of the Constitution of Belize, which states that the governor-general of Belize "shall appoint a member of the House of Representatives who is the leader of the political party that commands the support of the majority of the members of that House."

The deputy prime minister of Belize is an elected official who, according to the Constitution, "serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister of Belize." The deputy prime minister is often the deputy leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives of Belize that is in government. This means that the deputy prime minister is usually from the same party as the prime minister, which is the party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives is one of three bodies that make up the National Assembly, which is the Legislature of Belize. The other two bodies are the Governor-General and the Senate. The 31 members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people of Belize to serve a maximum of five years. The party with the majority of seats in the House forms the government, which is led by the Prime Minister and their Cabinet.

The current deputy prime minister of Belize is Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, who holds the position alongside his role as Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum, and Mining. The deputy prime minister supports the prime minister and can take on additional responsibilities as assigned by the prime minister.

The selection of the deputy prime minister is an important aspect of Belize's political system, ensuring that the largest political party in the House of Representatives is well-represented in the country's leadership.

The Prime Minister's office is established by Section 37 of the Constitution of Belize

The Prime Minister's role is to keep the Governor-General informed about the general conduct of the government and to provide any information that the Governor-General may request about the government. The Prime Minister also has the power to designate a Minister as Deputy Prime Minister, who can perform the Prime Minister's functions in their absence.

The Prime Minister can be removed from office by the Governor-General if a resolution of no confidence is passed in the House of Representatives and the Prime Minister does not resign or advise the Governor-General to dissolve the National Assembly within seven days. The office of Prime Minister also becomes vacant if the Prime Minister ceases to be a member of the House of Representatives or is required to stop performing their functions as a member.

The Constitution of Belize also outlines the process for appointing a Prime Minister if the National Assembly is dissolved or if the Governor-General is about to appoint a new Prime Minister.

Frequently asked questions