Government Politics of Belize

Last elections: March 2012

Next elections: 2017

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by governor-general, Sir Colville Norbert Young Sr (1993–)

Head of government: Prime Minister Dean Oliver Barrow

Ruling party: United Democratic Party

In the general election of August 1998 the opposition People’s United Party (PUP) won 26 of the 29 seats in the House of Representatives and Said Musa became prime minister. The ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) took three seats and Esquivel handed over the party leadership to Dean Barrow.

For the first time since independence, the ruling party was returned to power in the March 2003 general election. The PUP took 22 seats to the UDP’s seven, and Said Musa resumed as prime minister.

In January 2005, the government increased tax rates on commodities and property and riots broke out. Civil unrest continued until April with trade unions and government opponents demanding Musa’s resignation. This and allegations of corruption in the PUP government proved decisive in the subsequent elections.

The February 2008 general election resulted in a landslide victory for the opposition UDP, which won 25 seats to the ruling PUP’s six. UDP leader Barrow became the country’s first prime minister of African descent.

The general election in March 2012 was again won by Barrow and the UDP with 17 seats, the PUP taking 14.