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Opposition wins in Guyana defeating party in power for 23 years

Saturday, May 16th 2015 - 08:03 UTC
Full article 3 comments
David Granger and his Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change Coalition got nearly 207,000 votes in Monday’s ¬general elections. David Granger and his Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change Coalition got nearly 207,000 votes in Monday’s ¬general elections.
Outgoing president, Donald Ramotar forced early ¬elections after suspending and dissolving parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote. Outgoing president, Donald Ramotar forced early ¬elections after suspending and dissolving parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote.

A retired army general is poised to become Guyana’s new president after a multi-ethnic opposition ¬coalition defeated a party that has been in power for 23 years, officials said. Preliminary results show David Granger and his Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change Coalition got nearly 207,000 votes in Monday’s ¬general elections.

 The long-governing People’s Progressive Party had almost 201,500 votes. The coalition is expected to have a three or four-seat major¬ity in the 65-member parliament of the South American country.

It previously held a one-seat majority and often clashed with the current president, Donald Ramotar, who forced early ¬elections after suspending and dissolving parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote.

Mr Ramotar rejected the ¬results and said his party was ¬demanding a full recount.

“I cannot concede that I have lost this election,” he said. When asked if he would refuse to give up power, he answered, “I have not closed any option as yet.”

Guyana’s electoral commission said final results would not differ much from the preliminary results ¬released earlier in the day.

The US embassy said allegations about irregularities were unfounded, calling the election “free and fair”.

Ramotar’s party has been in power since 1992 and was seeking a sixth consecutive term while facing accusations of ¬corruption and mismanagement. It has long received ¬support mostly from Guyanese of Indian descent.

Officials said Brigadier General Granger, 69, could be sworn any moment, becoming Guyana’s eighth government leader since the country gained independence from Britain in 1966.

He has promised to end racial politics that have long defined Guyana, a country of nearly 746,000 people who are mainly of Indian and African descent.

Categories: Politics, Latin America.

Top Comments

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  • ChrisR

    65 member parliament for 746,000 people: even worse than Uruguay and that's saying something.

    Notice how all these newcomers are “coalition” parties so they get the worst of both worlds AND that is just like Uruguay.

    Jobs for the boys and girls for a five year mandate and no experience or qualifications required.

    May 16th, 2015 - 12:19 pm 0
  • Briton

    Mr Ramotar rejected the ¬results and was ¬demanding a full recount.

    “I cannot concede that I have lost this election,”

    remind you of someone.?

    May 16th, 2015 - 08:37 pm 0
  • Terence Hill

    1 ChrisR
    Maybe there will be a coup and a shiny new dictator installed and then, everything will be hunky-dory again.

    May 17th, 2015 - 12:19 am 0
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