General elections were held in

Belize Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...

on 4 November 2015 to elect members of the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

. On 28 September 2015 Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that he had advised the

Governor-General Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...

to dissolve the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...

and to fix Wednesday 4 November 2015 as the date for the next general elections. Barrow's United Democratic Party increased its majority from 17 seats to 19 seats.Garcia, David Alire
"Belize PM Barrow wins record third consecutive term"

Reuters Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world. The agency ...

, 5 November 2015. (accessed 5 November 2015) While the People's United Party won 12 seats.

Date

The prior general election was held on 7 March 2012, and the previous National Assembly opened on 21 March 2012. According to Section 84 of the Constitution of Belize, the National Assembly must be dissolved "five years from the date when the two Houses of the former National Assembly first met" unless dissolved sooner by the Governor-General of Belize upon the advice of the prime minister.Belize / Belice: Constitution 1981
Political Database of the Americas. (accessed 9 October 2014) A general election must be called within three months of a dissolution, which meant the latest possible date for the next Belizean general election was 21 June 2017. In March 2015 UDP leader and Prime Minister Dean Barrow ruled out the possibility of a snap election later in 2015 despite his party's recent interim electoral successes."Hon. Barrow Pleased, Avoids Gloating"
Tropical Vision Limited, 5 March 2015. (accessed 16 March 2015) In early September 2015 Barrow indicated the election would be called in early 2016, however no firm date had been set at the time."Darrell Bradley on Campaign Trail in Caribbean Shores"
Great Belize Television, 4 September 2015 (accessed 7 September 2015) The poll is the second consecutive snap election in Belize held closer to four years rather than five. Both Barrow and the opposition People's United Party support lowering the maximum term of the National Assembly to four years.Parks, Rowland A
"General elections no later than 'first part of next year' – PM Barrow"
'' Amandala'', 4 September 2015. (accessed 27 September 2015) Candidates were formally nominated on 16 October 2015."A New, Consolidated Third Party Emerges"
Great Belize Television, 1 October 2015. (accessed 2 October 2015)

Background

The ruling UDP led by Barrow attempted to win a third consecutive election for the first time in its history. The UDP won the 2012 election with a considerably smaller majority than it enjoyed after the 2008 election. However, the PUP had not won a major election since 2003. Going into the 2015 election, the UDP held eight of the 10 constituencies in Belize City, by far the country's largest city. Continued dominance in Belize City was seen as key to future UDP success. Meanwhile, the opposition People's United Party sought to maintain its edge in the rural districts. Gains in the Toledo, Stann Creek and Orange Walk Districts more than made up for the PUP's net loss in Belize City in 2012.Belize election maps
Psephos - Adam Carr's Election Archive. (accessed 20 November 2014) Based on a previously scheduled purge of electoral lists by the Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission, Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca has requested international observation of the election from the

Caribbean Community The Caribbean Community (abbreviated as CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organisation that is a Political association, political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) and five associated members thro ...

, the

Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...

or the

Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...

."PUP Wants Election Observers"
Tropical Vision Limited, 30 September 2015. (accessed 1 October 2015)

Constituency boundaries

Constituency An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...

boundaries were unchanged from 2012 as Belize does not have a regular reapportionment schedule.Belize: Electoral Law
Political Database of the Americas. (accessed 27 September 2015) Belizean electoral divisions were last redrawn in 2005. In October 2015 the opposition Vision Inspired by the People party filed suit seeking to nullify the election results based on this lack of a recent reapportionment."Party Leaders Discuss VIP's Intended Wrench"
Tropical Vision Limited, 16 October 2015. (accessed 28 October 2015)

Party leadership

Barrow, who has led the UDP since 1998, led the party for a fourth consecutive election. He stated this election would be his last as party leader. The PUP was led by Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca, despite Fonseca facing a leadership challenge from several PUP area representatives earlier in 2015., "Opposition Leader Discuses Truce With G-11 Rebels">, Tropical Vision Limited
, 18 September 2015. (accessed 27 September 2015) The election was Fonseca's second as party leader.

Minor parties

Third parties traditionally perform poorly in Belize, with no third party running independently finishing with more than one percent of the vote nationwide since

1984. Belize's active minor parties at the time of the 2012 election, Vision Inspired by the People and the People's National Party (Belize)">People's National Party The People's National Party (PNP) (PNP; ) is a Social democracy, social democratic List of political parties in Jamaica, political party in Jamaica, founded in 1938 by Norman Manley, Norman Washington Manley who served as party president unti ...

, ran a total of nine candidates between them in 2012 but were not competitive in any seat. In September 2015, shortly after the election was called, the PNP merged with members of the VIP and other opposition groups to form the Belize Progressive Party (BPP). The BPP ran in 25 out of 31 constituencies.Parks, Rowland and Albert J. Ciego
"88 candidates will contest 31 seats!"
'' Amandala'', 20 October 2015. (accessed 28 October 2015) Another minor party, the Belize Green Independent Party, ran a single candidate in Toledo East, but garnered only 5 votes.

Interim elections

January 2015 Cayo North by-election

The Cayo North constituency held a

by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, or a bypoll in India, is an election used to fill an office that has become vacant between general elections. A vacancy may arise as a result of an incumben ...

on 5 January 2015 to elect a successor to PUP Area Rep. Joseph Mahmud, who unexpectedly resigned in November 2014."Parliamentarian Resigns; Bi-election to be held in Cayo North on January 5th"
'' The San Pedro Sun'', 25 November 2014. (accessed 26 November 2014) Mahmud had previously indicated he was standing down."Hon. Mahmud Is Out For Real"
Tropical Vision Limited, 23 October 2014. (accessed 20 November 2014) The by-election was only the third in Belize since independence, and the first since a by-election in Cayo South in October 2003.Result of By-election 2003
, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 26 November 2014) Candidate nominations closed on 15 December 2014 with PUP nominee Richard Harrison and UDP nominee Omar Figueroa qualifying. No third party candidates appeared on the ballot.REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT CHAPTER 9 NOTICE THAT A POLL WILL BE TAKEN The Electoral Division of CAYO NORTH
Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 December 2014) Figueroa won the by-election by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, increasing the UDP's overall majority in the Belize House."Dr Omar Figueroa elected as new Area Rep for Cayo North"
'' The San Pedro Sun'', 6 January 2015. (accessed 6 January 2015)

March 2015 municipal elections

Municipal elections held on 4 March 2015 resulted in a decisive UDP victory, with the governing party easily re-electing Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley and retaining control of the Belize City Council. The UDP also defeated PUP-controlled local governments in

Dangriga Dangriga, formerly known as Stann Creek Town, is a town in southern Belize, located on the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean coast at the mouth of the North Stann Creek River. It is the capital of Belize's Stann Creek District. Dangriga is served by the ...

and Punta Gorda. The PUP prevailed in only one municipality nationwide, Orange Walk Town."U.D.P. Sweeps 2015 Municipal Elections: Darrell Bradley Re-elected to City Hall"
Great Belize Television, 5 March 2015. (accessed 16 March 2015)Ramos, Adele
"UDP fiesta!"
'' Amandala'', 6 March 2015. (accessed 16 March 2015)

July 2015 Dangriga by-election

On 8 June 2015 PUP Area Rep. Ivan Ramos resigned after controversially failing to retain his standard bearer status in

. A by-election was held on 8 July."Bye-Election In July! PUP Hon. Ivan Ramos Steps Down As Representative"
Tropical Vision Limited, 8 June 2015. (accessed 18 June 2015) Nominations were formally made on 22 June. Former Dangriga Mayor Frank "Papa" Mena was the UDP nominee, while retired educator Anthony Sabal stood as the PUP candidate after initial reports the PUP might not contest the by-election at all."PUP Still 'Assessing' While Bye-election Date Drawing Nigh"
Tropical Vision Limited, 12 June 2015. (accessed 18 June 2015)Trujillo, Renee
"Political Momentum Picks Up in Dangriga"
, LOVE FM, 17 June 2015 (accessed 18 June 2015) Llewellyn Lucas from the Belize Green Independent Party was also nominated, becoming that party's first official candidate in any election since it was founded in 2012."Nomination Day for Bi Election in Dangriga"
PlusTV Belize, 23 June 2015. (accessed 23 June 2015) A fourth candidate endorsed by both of Belize's other active minor parties, the PNP and VIP, was disqualified due to holding

dual citizenship Multiple citizenship (or multiple nationality) is a person's legal status in which a person is at the same time recognized by more than one sovereign state, country under its nationality law, nationality and citizenship law as a national or cit ...

. Belizean candidates for public office may not hold citizenship in any other country.Clarke, Kareem
"Race for Dangriga seat in high gear"
'' Amandala'', 23 June 2015 (accessed 23 June 2015) The by-election was won by Mena with 57.89 percent of the vote, giving the UDP its third consecutive by-election win dating to 2003.Humes, Aaro
"Frank 'Papa' Mena is the new Dangriga area representative "
Breaking Belize News, 8 July 2015. (accessed 8 July 2015)

Area Representatives standing down

UDP

# Santino Castillo ( Caribbean Shores), announced 15 April 2015.Humes, Aaron
"Santino Castillo hands over to Darrell Bradley in Caribbean Shores"
''Breaking Belize News'', 16 April 2015. (accessed 22 April 2015) # Herman R. Longsworth ( Albert), announced 25 March 2015."Tracy Taegar Panton is New UDP Standard Bearer for Albert"
, ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', 26 March 2015. (accessed 31 March 2015) # Elvin Penner ( Cayo North East), deselected 8 June 2014.Jones, Patrick E
"New standard bearer for the UDP in Cayo Northeast"
Breaking Belize News, 8 June 2014. (accessed 21 November 2014)

PUP

# Marco Tulio Mendez ( Orange Walk East), announced 11 November 2014.Humes, Aaron
"PUP Orange Walk East area rep. steps down for health reasons"
Breaking Belize News, 11 November 2014. (accessed 23 November 2014)

Results

References

{{Belizean elections 2015 in Belize

General elections in Belize