List of political parties in Belize

This article lists political parties in the country of Belize.

Belize has a two-party system, which means that there are two dominant political parties. It is difficult to achieve electoral success under the banner of any other party.

Political culture

edit

In 1950, after the general worker union had been formed, the people's committee constituted itself as the PUP (People's United Party) and taken the majority seating in the elected Belize city council.[1] When Belize became fully independent and joined in the Commonwealth[2] on September 21, 1981, the two parties UDP (United Democratic Party) and PUP rose in the political scene.[3] This made an effect two-party system.[3] The UDP believes in pro-business and the PUP believes in pro-labour but both are closely centred in the spectrum.[3] The PUP foster the idea of political independence but their opposition UDP believe in the national interest of equitable distribution of public services from the government.[1]

The party system is dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party. There have been other small parties that have participated at all levels of governmental elections in the past. Although none of these small political parties have ever won any significant number of seats and/or offices, their challenge has been growing over the years.

National parties

edit

Political parties with elected representation at a national or international level

edit
Party Position Ideology Leader Representation
House Senate
People's United Party (PUP) Centre to centre-left Christian democracy
Social democracy
Nationalism
Johnny Briceño
25 / 31
6 / 13
United Democratic Party (UDP) Centre-right Conservatism Patrick Faber
5 / 31
3 / 13

Other minor parties

edit
Party Position Ideology Leader
Belize People's Front (BPF) Centre-left Social democracy
Progressivism
Nancy Marin
Belize Progressive Party (BPP) Centre-left to left-wing Social democracy
Reformism
Republicanism
Patrick Rogers
Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) [?] [?] Hubert Enriquez

Defunct parties

edit

Provincial parties

edit

These parties were/are active only in a certain area.

Current

edit

Defunct

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Waddell, D.A.G (1981). British Honduras- A Historical and Contemporary survey. West Point, Connecticut: Greenwood Press Publishers. pp. 109, 111–118, 122–125, 138–141. ISBN 0313229929.
  2. ^ Hydrant (http://www.hydrant.co.uk), Site designed and built by. "Belize : Constitution and politics". The Commonwealth. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. ^ a b c Twigg, Alan (2006). Understanding Belize: A Historical Guide. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour publishing. pp. 167–174. ISBN 1-55017-325-1.