MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands General Election planned for late November.

A General Election in the Falkland Islands is likely to be held in the ?3rd week of November 2001' according to Councillor Mike Summers.

It is anticipated that Governor Donald Lamont will dissolve the present Legislature sometime in October so allowing the required period for nominations and pre-election campaigning by the candidates. In line with the United Kingdom, a General Election in the Falklands is required every 4 years.

8 Councillors are elected to the Legislative Council, comprising 5 for the Stanley constituency and 3 for the '?Camp'' or Farming Constituency. A current review of the Constitution could result in the present two Constituency system being retained, but a majority of the electors are thought to favour a change to just one Constituency.

While most of the present Legislative Council members are not prepared to state publicly whether they will stand for another term, it is believe that at least 2, Councillors William Luxton and Lewis Clifton, will not seek re-election.

The recently formed political party, The Democratic Association, which strongly opposes the 1999 Treaty which now allows Argentine Nationals access to the Falklands on their Argentine passports, could field as many as 8 candidates in the planned November General Election.