Dominican general election, 2005

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General elections were held in Dominica on 5 May 2005. The result was a victory for the ruling Dominica Labour Party, which won 12 of the 21 seats in the House of Assembly. The opposition United Workers' Party unsuccessfully made legal challenges to several of the constituency results.

Background

In the previous 2000 elections the ruling United Workers' Party won one fewer seats than the Dominica Labour Party, despite receiving more votes. As a result, the Dominica Labour Party with 10 seats was able to form a coalition government with the Dominica Freedom Party, which had won two seats.[1] In 2004 Prime Minister Pierre Charles died and was succeeded by Minister of Education Roosevelt Skerrit.[2]

Campaign

On 7 April Skerrit announced that the elections would take place on 5 May.[2] Altogether 47 candidates stood in the elections; 21 candidates from the United Workers' Party, 19 from the Dominica Labour Party, 3 from the Dominica Progressive Party, 2 from the Dominica Freedom Party and 2 independents. Just under 66,000 voters were registered to vote in the election at 249 polling stations spread over the 21 constituencies.[3][4]

Major elections issues included an International Monetary Fund austerity economic plan for Dominica and the Dominica Labour Party government's decision to switch recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China.[5][6]

On the Monday before the election, there was an incident when motorcades for the two main parties collided with each other. No major injuries resulted and rallies for each party were held afterwards.[7] The police then refused either party permission to hold motorcades on the day before the election.[4]

The campaign was judged as being particularly long and divisive, with the election seen as very close and likely to come down to voter turnout.[3][4]

Opinion polls

A poll in February predicted that the United Workers' Party would win 12 seats, compared to 7 for the Dominica Labour Party and 2 for the Dominica Freedom Party. However another poll in March had the Dominica Labour Party winning 12 seats, the United Workers' Party 7 seats and the Dominica Freedom Party 2 seats.[8]

Results

The Dominica Labour Party increased their number of seats from 10 to 12, obtaining a majority. The United Workers' Party lost one seat, one independent candidate was elected, whilst the Dominica Freedom Party lost both its seats.[9] It was the first election in 35 years where the Dominica Freedom Party—the governing party of Eugenia Charles from 1980 to 1995—did not win any seats.[10][11] Prime Minister Skerrit announced that the day after the election would be a national holiday and called for Dominica to unite behind the government after the elections.[5][12]

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Dominica Labour Party19,74152.0712+2
United Workers' Party16,52943.608–1
Dominica Freedom Party1,1943.150–2
Dominica Progressive Party230.060
Independents4261.121+1
Invalid/blank votes1,022–––
Total37,913100210
Registered voters/turnout65,88959.09––
Source: IPU

Aftermath

Following the elections, the United Workers' Party made legal challenges to the results of five constituencies, Castle Bruce, Soufriere, Mahaut, St Joseph and Carib Territory alleging that there were problems with the counts and that the results were rigged by the government.[13] Initial counts in the Castle Bruce constituency had the United Workers' Party candidate ahead but the final result saw the Dominica Labour Party win by one vote.[14] Opposition supporters protested the results outside of the government headquarters in Roseau.[15] On the 28 October 2005 the legal challenges were dismissed by a High Court Justice, Hugh Rawlins.[16] The appeals court also rejected the lawsuit in April 2006 and the United Workers' Party then dropped the challenges.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "General Election 2005". News-Dominica.com. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. 1 2 "Dominica". Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  3. 1 2 "Dominica's general election turnout "good" - officials". Caribbean Net News. 2005-05-05. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  4. 1 2 3 "Dominica holds general elections". BBC Online. 2005-05-04. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  5. 1 2 "Dominican leader wants unity". BBC Online. 2005-05-06. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  6. ↑ "Governing party retains power in Dominica". The Jamaica Observer. 2005-05-06. Archived from the original on May 7, 2005. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  7. ↑ "Dominican police investigate election motorcade furore". Caribbean Net News. 2005-05-04. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  8. ↑ "Dominica vote too close to call". The Jamaica Observer. 2005-04-11. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  9. ↑ "Dominica: Legislative election of 5 May 2005". Psephos - Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  10. ↑ "Tough times for Dominica Freedom Party". Antigua Sun. 2005-05-19. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  11. ↑ "Dominica re-elects prime minister". Caribbean Net News. 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  12. ↑ "Ruling party wins Dominica poll". BBC Online. 2005-05-06. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  13. ↑ "Dominica election challenge fails". Caribbean Net News. 2005-06-04. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  14. ↑ "Dominica general election was free and fair, says elections chief". Caribbean Net News. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  15. ↑ "Opposition to challenge Dominica's poll results". BBC Online. 2005-05-09. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  16. ↑ "Ruling by Dominica High Court dashes by-election hopes of United Workers Party". Caribbean Net News. 2005-11-03. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  17. ↑ "Dominica opposition drops court challenge to May 2005 poll". The Jamaica Observer. 2006-04-06. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
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