2013 Barbadian general election
{{Short description|Election in Barbados}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2013 Barbadian general election
| country = Barbados
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2008 Barbadian general election
| previous_year = 2008
| next_election = 2018 Barbadian general election
| next_year = 2018
| turnout = 62.02% ({{decrease}}1.52%)
| seats_for_election = 30 seats in the House of Assembly
| majority_seats = 16
| opinion_polls =
| election_date = 21 February 2013
| image1 = 150x150px
| leader1 = Freundel Stuart
| leader_since1 = 23 October 2010
| party1 = Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)
| leaders_seat1 = St. Michael South
| last_election1 = 20 seats, 52.5%
| seats1 = 16
| seat_change1 = {{decrease}}4
| popular_vote1 = 78,851
| percentage1 = 51.3%
| swing1 = {{decrease}}1.2%
| image2 = 150x150px
| leader2 = Owen Arthur
| leader_since2 = 18 October 2010
| party2 = Barbados Labour Party
| leaders_seat2 = St. Peter
| last_election2 = 10 seats, 47.1%
| seats2 = 14
| seat_change2 = {{increase}}4
| popular_vote2 = 74,121
| percentage2 = 48.2%
| swing2 = {{increase}}1.1%
| map_image = File:2013 Barbadian general election.svg
| map_caption = Results by constituency
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Freundel Stuart
| before_party = DLP
| after_election = Freundel Stuart
| after_party = DLP
}}{{Politics of Barbados}}
General elections were held in Barbados on 21 February 2013. They were the first post-independence elections where the election date was announced five years after the last general election.{{cite news |title=Experts: PM’s timing curious |first=Maria |last=Bradshaw |url=http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/expertspms-timing-curious/ |newspaper=Nation Newspaper |date=30 January 2013 |accessdate=30 January 2013 |quote=“We knew that the Constitution and the law allowed him to call it after the five years had passed since the last election but it was the practice in Barbados and most of the Commonwealth that you would call the elections before the anniversary of the last election date. }} The ruling Democratic Labour Party was re-elected with a reduced majority, winning 16 of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly.{{cite web |url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2025_13.htm |title=Barbados: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 2013 |accessdate=31 March 2021 |publisher=Inter-Parliamentary Union}}
Background
According to the Constitution of Barbados, elections must take place no longer than every five years from the first sitting of Parliament.Constitution: Section 61 (3): "Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved. (4) At any time when Barbados is at war, Parliament may extend the period of five years specified in subsection (3) for not more than twelve months at a time:" The last general election was held on 15 January 2008, while the first sitting of the current session of Parliament was held on 12 February 2008.[https://archive.today/20130129154059/http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/stuarts-dilemma/ Stuart’s dilemma] The Daily Nation After the dissolution of Parliament, the Governor-General of Barbados, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Barbados, must issue a writ for a general election for members to the House of Assembly and for appointment of Senators to the Senate within 90 days.Constitution: Section 62 (1) (2): "After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General shall issue writs for a general election of members of the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution. (2) As soon as may be after every general election the Governor General shall proceed under section 36 to the appointment of Senators."
The election and nomination dates were announced by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on 29 January 2013. The nomination deadline for candidates to register was scheduled for 6 February 2013.{{cite web|title=Barbados to elect new government on February 21 |publisher=Caribbean News Agency (CANA) |url=http://cananewsonline.com/news/86018-barbados-to-elect-new-government-on-february-21.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215171420/http://cananewsonline.com/news/86018-barbados-to-elect-new-government-on-february-21.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-15 |accessdate=2013-01-29 }}{{cite news |title=PM rings election bell |author=Shawn Cumberbatch |author2=Donna Sealy |url=http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2013/01/30/pm-rings-election-bell/ |newspaper=Barbados Today |date=30 January 2013 |accessdate=30 January 2013 |quote=Election officials got the ball rolling tonight when they were dispatched island wide to post notices of the February 21 polling and Nomination Day, which will be next Wednesday. Here officers Haskell Drakes and Everton Henry paste a notice on the door of the District “A” Police Station. }}{{cite news|title=The bell has been rung |author=Editorial |url=http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=editorial&NewsID=28946 |newspaper=The Barbados Advocate |date=30 January 2013 |accessdate=30 January 2013 |quote=The date for the next General Election has been set. Barbadians will be heading to the polls on Thursday, February 21 to cast their votes. Nomination day is next week Wednesday. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215152116/http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=editorial&NewsID=28946 |archive-date=15 February 2013 }}{{cite news |title=Election day is February 21 |url=http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/election-day-is-february-21/ |newspaper=The Daily Nation |accessdate=30 January 2013 }}
Results
{{Election results
|image=File:House of Assembly of Barbados, 2013.svg
|party1=Democratic Labour Party|votes1=78851|seats1=16|sc1=–4
|party2=Barbados Labour Party|votes2=74121|seats2=14|sc2=+4
|party3=People's Democratic Congress|votes3=89|seats3=0|sc3=0|color3=#767474
|party4=Bajan Free Party|votes4=50|seats4=0|sc4=New
|party5=Kingdom Government of Barbados|votes5=39|seats5=0|sc5=New
|party6=Independents|votes6=552|seats6=0|sc6=0
|total_sc=0
|invalid=741
|electorate=249024
|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20211005160458/http://www.caribbeanelections.com/bb/elections/bb_results_2013.asp Caribbean Elections]
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20130411110535/http://www.nationnews.com/elections/scorecard/ Election results], By Nation newspaper
- [http://elections2013.vob929.com/Default.aspx Election results]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Voice of Barbados
{{Barbadian elections}}
Category:Elections in Barbados
Category:February 2013 in North America
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