BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC—Prime Minister John Briceño hopes that his ruling People’s United Party (PUP) will maintain its 21-seat majority in the Parliament when voters in the Toledo East constituency cast their ballots in a bye-election on July 17.
The bye-election follows the death of the former area representative, Michael Espat, who died on April 22, 2024. Espat was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1989 and was in his sixth parliamentary term, with his last election victory being in November 2020.
“I’ve asked for the writ to be prepared, and I have set the date after consulting with the Elections & Boundaries Commission to see when they could get ready for the voters list. I would want to have it as early as possible. The date is going to be July 17, which is going to be on my birthday. So I’ll be working on that day in Toledo East,” Prime Minister Briceño, 63, told reporters.
The ruling party, the People’s United Party (PUP), has selected Dr. Osmond Martinez as its candidate for the bye-election. A seasoned politician, Dr. Martinez is expected to uphold the party’s policies and values. On the other hand, the main opposition, the United Democratic Party (UDP), is pinning its hopes on Dennis “Desho” Williams, a popular figure in the constituency, to secure the seat.
According to the Election and Boundaries Department, the total number of electors in Toledo East is 7485 as of January 2024.
Political observers say the vote will be a test for the ruling party that won 26 seats in the November 11, 2020, general election, with the remaining five going to the UDP.
Political observers anticipate that a number of issues, including crime, could take center stage during the campaign for the bye-election. These issues are also likely to feature prominently in the 2025 general election, indicating their significance in the political discourse and their potential impact on the election outcomes.
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