Next Antiguan general election

Last updated

Next Antiguan general election
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg
←  2023 On or before 18 January 2028
All 17 seats in the House of Representatives
9 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond partyThird party
  10 06 2022 Segunda Sessao Plenaria da IX Cupula das Americas (52137201805) (cropped).jpg Jamale Pringle.png Trevor Walker in 2010.jpg
Leader Gaston Browne Jamale Pringle Trevor Walker
Party ABLP UPP BPM
Last election47.06%, 9 seats45.22%, 6 seats1.46%, 1 seat
Prime Minister before election

Gaston Browne
ABLP

Subsequent Prime Minister

TBD

General elections are scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda on or before 18 January 2028 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party (ABLP) has held a slim majority of seats since the 2023 election, making further gains in Parliament following the election of Rawdon Turner and the unofficial floor walk of Anthony Smith. However, the Labour Party also experienced resounding losses in the 2025 Barbuda Council election and the 2023 St. Mary's South by-election. Besides the ABLP, the United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Barbuda People's Movement (BPM), as well as various other independents and minor parties are expected to contest.

Contents

Background

Following the 2023 election, the Labour Party experienced a near loss, with the People’s Parliament alliance composed of the UPP, BPM, and independent Asot Michael winning the popular vote. [1] The Labour Party only carried one parish, Saint John, where the vast majority of the population resides. [2] Party leader Harold Lovell lost his contest by only a few votes, resulting in his resignation from the party leadership and the eventual rise of deputy leader Jamale Pringle. [3]

For most of 2023, the Labour Party suffered significant losses, losing both the 2023 Barbuda Council election and St. Mary’s South by-elections in landslides. [4] [5] The discontent with the Labour government lasted until July 2024, when UPP MP Anthony Smith left the party and was appointed to the Labour Party government the following day. [6] [7] This sparked a credibility crisis for the UPP, with internal dysfunction being revealed to the public and many calls for the party leadership to resign. [8] Following the assassination of independent St. Peter MP Asot Michael in November 2024, the Labour Party was able to emerge victorious with about three-fourths of the vote. [9] This credibility crisis is considered to have ended with the controversial 2025 Barbuda Council election, with resulted in the BPM winning all seats up for election. [10] The Prime Minister stated that the country was ready for a general election in a rally on 23 March 2025, and in the council election's aftermath, informal campaigning commenced. [11]

Due to repeated delays of the 2021 census until June 2025, the Constituency Boundaries Commission had originally proposed updating constituency boundaries based on voter registration counts. The constituency boundaries have not been changed since the 1980s and constituency populations vary in the thousands. [12]

Electoral system

As of March 2025, there are seventeen single-member constituencies in Antigua and Barbuda, with members of the House of Representatives being elected by first-past-the-post voting. There are sixteen constituencies on Antigua and one on Barbuda. [13] In order to vote in Antigua and Barbuda, one must be an Antiguan and Barbudan citizen or the citizen of a Commonwealth country who is permanent resident in the country. One must also be aged eighteen or older and registered to vote with the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission. [14]

Political parties

Antigua and Barbuda has a three-party system, with the Labour Party active throughout the country, the UPP being active in Antigua, and the BPM being active in Barbuda. The UPP and BPM are allied, with alignment on most political issues and previously having a coalition government from 2004 to 2014. While formerly social democratic, since independence the ABLP has been a mostly conservative party.

NameIdeologyPolitical positionLeader2023 result
Votes (%)Seats
Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party Paternalistic conservatism
Anti-federalism 		Centre-right Gaston Browne 47.06%
9 / 17
United Progressive Party Social democracy Centre-left Jamale Pringle 45.22%
6 / 17
Barbuda People's Movement Social democracy
Barbudan nationalism
Federalism 		Centre-left to left-wing Trevor Walker 1.46%
1 / 17

Campaign

Informal campaigning began on 28 March 2025. The Browne began criticising the UPP due to its credibility crisis, while maintaining a more cooperative tone with the BPM due to its recent council election victory. [15] [16] The UPP promised to revamp the health, tourism, and education sectors. [17] The opposition also criticised an increase in vehicle licensing fees and low quality public utilities. [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thomas, Latrishka (19 January 2023). "ABLP narrowly escapes defeat in Antigua and Barbuda Election". Loop News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ↑ "BREAKING: ABLP retains government by slim majority". Antigua News Room. 19 January 2023. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Wilkinson, Bert (19 January 2023). "PM Browne wins again…just – Caribbean Life". Caribbean Life. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Michael, Vivian (31 March 2023). "'We are humbled': Victory for BPM with clean sweep in Barbuda Council elections". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  5. ↑ http://www.abec.gov.ag/sms/
  6. ↑ Editorial Staff (15 July 2024). "BREAKING: Anthony Smith Resigns From UPP - Antigua News !" . Retrieved 19 January 2025. Antigua.news
  7. ↑ ABS TV Antigua (16 July 2024). SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR THE HON. ANTHONY SMITH (Tuesday July 16th 2024) . Retrieved 16 July 2024– via YouTube.
  8. ↑ Team, WiredJA News (24 September 2024). "ANTIGUA | UPP Leader vows to stay the course, will not resign despite indirect pressure from traditional party bosses". WiredJa. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Radio, ABS TV / (20 March 2013). "St. Peter Decides 2025" . Retrieved 15 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Barbuda Council Election Watch 2025 | Barbuda Council Election Watch 2025 | By Barbuda Channel | Facebook . Retrieved 27 March 2025– via www.facebook.com.
  11. ↑ "PM Browne Hints at Election Timing: "It's Coming Soon"". Antigua News Room. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  12. ↑ George, Elesha (17 January 2025). "Government Appoints New Constituencies Boundaries Commission Members" . Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "IPU PARLINE database: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA (House of Representatives), Electoral system". archive.ipu.org. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  14. ↑ Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order (PDF).
  15. ↑ "PM Browne Blasts Opposition as 'Constellation of Fools'". Antigua News Room. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  16. ↑ "Government Open to Talks as New Barbuda Council Is Elected". Antigua News Room. 27 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  17. ↑ "UPP Promises to Revamp Health, Education, and Tourism Sectors". Antigua News Room. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  18. ↑ "Pringle Calls for Voter Mobilization, Warns of Snap Elections". Antigua News Room. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
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