| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
12 June 2014 |
| Purpose of elections |
The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) regained power after 10 years in opposition, taking 14 of the 17 directly elected seats in the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer's United Progressive Party (UPP) took the remaining three seats, down from nine. The ABLP (formerly named the Antigua Labour Party) had dominated the country's politics since independence from United Kingdom in 1981 until the elections in 2004, under the leadership of Mr. Vere Cornwall Bird and his son, Lester. The former's grandson-in-law, Mr. Gaston Browne, led the ABLP in the 2014 elections.
The country's economy contracted over the past five years. In 2010, the UPP government sought a Stand-By Arrangement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize the country's debt. Unemployment rate increased from 5 to 25 per cent in 10 years. The ABLP promised to abolish personal income tax, create more jobs and revive more local and foreign investment. The UPP, which was seeking an unprecedented third five-year term, promised to develop the economy by constructing a new port and a modern performing arts centre and exploring space technology.
On 13 June, 47-year-old Mr. Browne (ABLP) was sworn in, thereby becoming the country's youngest ever Prime Minister. |
Date of previous elections: 12 March 2009
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 26 April 2014
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry*
*In accordance with section 60(2) of the Constitution, the House of Representatives was automatically dissolved on 26 April 2014, five year after the first session of the outgoing parliament on 27 April 2009. Elections were due within three months from the dissolution of the House, i.e. by 25 July 2014.
Expected date of next elections: Before September 2019
Number of seats at stake: 17 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 41 (36 men, 5 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 12.2%
Number of parties contesting the election: 6
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 25 June 2014
Name of the new Speaker: Sir Gerald Watt QC (appointed member) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 12 June 2014 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
47'720
43'085 (90.29%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) |
14
|
|
|
|
|
| United Progressive Party (UPP) |
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
16
2
11.11%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
The House of Representatives, elected in June 2014, comprises 18 members in all: 17 directly-elected members and one appointed member, the Speaker. Unlike the previous legislature, the Attorney General is now an elected member, thus decreasing the total number of members from 19 to 18.
Sources: Parliament (26.06.2014)
http://www.antiguaelections.com/ |
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