Belize Braces For Upcoming Elections: Democracy In The Spotlight

The next general election in Belize is scheduled to take place in 2025, where 31 members of the House of Representatives will be elected. The current Prime Minister, Johnny Briceño, has confirmed that elections will not be held in 2024.

The previous general election took place on 11 November 2020, with the People's United Party (PUP) winning 26 seats and the United Democratic Party (UDP) winning the remaining 5 seats. The PUP's victory marked the party's first national election win since 2003.

Municipal elections were last held on 3 March 2021, where the PUP won all 9 municipalities and 65 of the 67 municipal seats.

The two-party system

Belize has a two-party system, with the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP) dominating the political landscape. This means that it is difficult for any other party to achieve electoral success. The PUP is pro-labour and fosters the idea of political independence, while the UDP is pro-business and believes in the national interest of equitable distribution of public services from the government.

In the 2020 general election, the PUP achieved a landslide victory, winning 26 out of 31 seats in the House of Representatives. This was the PUP's first national election victory since 2003. The incumbent UDP, led by Patrick Faber, suffered its worst result since 1998, winning only 5 seats. The election saw high voter turnout, with over 81% of voters participating despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent tropical storm.

The PUP's victory in 2020 led to a change in government, with Johnny Briceño becoming the new Prime Minister of Belize. Briceño, who had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister, is the first PUP member to lead the party in a national election from outside Belize City. The PUP's win also marked the first time a female party leader and Prime Ministerial candidate participated in a Belizean general election: Nancy Marin of the Belize People's Front.

While Belize's political history has been characterised by the dominance of the two main parties, there have been instances of smaller parties gaining traction. In the 1993 Legislative election, a coalition between the UDP and the National Alliance for Belizean Rights won 16 out of 29 seats. Additionally, in recent years, independents and third-party candidates have made gains in local elections.

The People's United Party (PUP)

The PUP was established as an anti-colonial party while Belize was under British rule as British Honduras. The party played a significant role in negotiating Belize's self-government in 1964 and eventual independence in 1981. The PUP dominated local British Honduran and Belizean politics from the mid-1950s until 1984, when it lost to the centre-right opposition UDP. Under the leadership of George Cadle Price, the PUP returned to power in 1989 but was defeated by the UDP again in 1993.

After nearly a decade in power under Said Musa, the PUP lost the February 2008 election to the UDP, winning only six out of 31 seats. The party remained in opposition after the 2012 and 2015 elections, gaining a few seats but failing to secure a majority. However, in the 2020 elections, the PUP made a strong comeback, winning an overwhelming majority and gaining 14 seats.

The PUP has a strong commitment to defending Belize's sovereignty and addressing various issues that transcend politics, such as the aggressive claim by Guatemala and escalating crime. The party also aims to build a better Belize with improved healthcare and education policies, unity among its people, and a focus on major industries like agriculture and sugar cane.

The United Democratic Party (UDP)

The UDP was formed as a merger of three opposition parties: the National Independence Party, the People's Development Movement, and a new Liberal Party. The resulting alliance was created to challenge the ruling PUP, which had never lost a legislative election since its foundation. The UDP's first electoral test was the 1974 general election, in which it fielded candidates nationwide, winning six seats.

In the 1984 general elections, the UDP, then led by Manuel Esquivel, won and formed the government. However, in the 1989 elections, they lost to the PUP, winning 13 seats to the PUP's 15. The UDP returned to power in the 1993 elections, forming an alliance with the National Alliance for Belizean Rights, which won them 15 seats. However, in the 1998 elections, they suffered a significant defeat, winning only seven seats in 2003.

After ten years in opposition, the UDP won the 2008 general elections, taking 25 of the 31 seats. Unfortunately, in the 2020 elections, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UDP suffered a major loss, winning only five seats. This was due to significant voter discontent caused by the pandemic and the impact of Hurricane Eta. The UDP's leader, Dean Barrow, stepped down after the election, and Patrick Faber became the new leader.

The UDP has a history of internal divisions and leadership changes. Since its formation, the party has had eight different leaders, with Manuel Esquivel and Dean Barrow serving the longest terms. The party has also struggled to retain seats in recent years, with several high-profile members choosing not to contest elections. Despite these challenges, the UDP remains a significant force in Belizean politics, with a strong support base and a presence in the House of Representatives.

The Belize Progressive Party

The BPP made its electoral debut in the November 2015 general election, in which it fielded 25 candidates and captured 1.63% of the vote nationwide (2,336 votes). The party failed to win any seats in this election.

In the 2020 Belizean general election, the BPP, led by Patrick Rogers, contested nine seats in the upcoming General Elections: Pickstock, Fort George, Port Loyola, Freetown, Queen Square, Toledo East, Stann Creek West, Belize Rural North, and Corozal Southeast Electoral Divisions. The party made several resolutions, including the right to land for every Belizean citizen aged 18 and older, protecting the health of citizens by keeping all land, sea, and air borders closed until the COVID-19 pandemic passes, and empowering small farmers to increase food security and ensure income generation. The BPP also supports zero tolerance for corruption and the assertion of sovereignty along the Sarstoon River.

The Belize Justice Movement

Pfrizer outlined several ideas and promises that the BJM intends to implement if elected. These include investing half a million Belize dollars in the people, issuing 25,000 free Belize passports, investing $3.5 million Belize dollars in the transportation system by importing thirty Volvo 9700 air-conditioned buses, and building state-of-the-art bus terminals in Orange Walk and Corozal within the first five years of their mandate. Additionally, the BJM plans to work closely with municipalities and invest $2.5 million dollars in youth programmes each summer.

The BJM identifies as a grassroots organisation and currently has five members, but they aim to expand their numbers in the coming months. The movement's early start ahead of the 2025 elections indicates their intention to gain momentum and build support for their cause. The BJM's emergence adds a new dynamic to Belize's political landscape, which has traditionally been dominated by a two-party system: the centre-left People's United Party (PUP) and the centre-right United Democratic Party (UDP). It remains to be seen how the BJM will fare in the upcoming elections and whether they will be able to make a significant impact on the country's political landscape.

The last general election in Belize was held on November 11, 2020, with the PUP achieving a victory by winning 26 seats, while the UDP won the remaining 5. The high election turnout of over 81% demonstrated the Belizean people's engagement in the democratic process. The next municipal election in Belize is tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2024, and the country will also hold a by-election in Toledo East on July 17, 2024.

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