People's National Congress

People's National Congress
Leader Robert Corbin
Headquarters Sophia Place, Sophia, Guyana
Ideology Socialism
Seats
22 / 65
Politics of Guyana
Political parties
Elections

The People's National Congress is a socialist political party in Guyana led by Robert Corbin. The party currently holds 22 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly. In Guyana's ethnically-divided political landscape, the PNC is supported primarily by Afro-Guyanese people.[1]

History

The party was formed following the 1957 general elections by a merger of the Forbes Burnham-led breakaway People's Progressive Party and the United Democratic Party (most of whose support came from Afro-Guyanese urban middle class).[2] In the 1964 elections it won 22 of the 53 seats and despite receiving fewer votes than the PPP, it was able to form the government in coalition with the United Force,[2] with Burnham becoming Prime Minister. It remained in power following fraudulent elections in 1968, 1973, 1980 and 1985,[3] but was defeated by the PPP in the 1992 elections, since which it has remained in opposition. The party changed to the APNU in the 2011 elections.

References

  1. ^ "Guyana voters head to polls to choose new government". BBC News. 29 November 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15905484. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p354 ISBN 9780199283576
  3. ^ Nohlen, p355

External links