General elections were held in
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern 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 wate ...
on 21 November 1979.
[ Dieter Nohlen (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p104 ] The result was a victory for the ruling
People's United Party
The People's United Party (PUP) is one of two major political parties in Belize. It is currently the governing party of Belize after success in the 2020 Belizean general election, winning a majority of 26 seats out of 31 in the Belizean House ...
, which won 13 of the 18 seats. Voter turnout was 89.9%.
[General Elections 1979](_blank)
, Belize Elections and Boundaries Commission. (accessed 19 November 2014)
Background
The PUP went into the election with a 13–5 majority, having picked up a seat after the previous election when Toledo District
Toledo District is the southernmost district in Belize, and Punta Gorda is the District capital. It is the second most developed region in the country (according to the Human Development Index (HDI)). The district has a diverse topography whic ...
Area Rep. Vicente Choco Crossing the floor, crossed the floor from the opposition United Democratic Party (Belize), United Democratic Party in 1975.[Ramos, Adele]
"Bombshell: Mahmud resigns!"
''Amandala'', 25 November 2014. (accessed 4 December 2014) The election results confirmed that 13-5 majority.
In 1979, Belizeans were concerned about their progress toward independence and the Belizean–Guatemalan territorial dispute, Guatemalan claim to the colony. The UDP were not in favour of advancing on the former issue without a substantial settlement of the latter, and this led the PUP to turn the election into a sort of referendum on that question. By their turnout (a record high) and their support for the PUP, Belizeans made clear their preferences and set in motion the chain of events that would lead to independence in 1981.
Results
References
1979 elections in Central America, Belize
General elections in Belize
1979 in Belize
1979 elections in the Caribbean, Belize
1979 elections in the British Empire, Belize
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