Progressive Labour Movement

Antigua and Barbuda

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The Progressive Labour Movement was a major political party in Antigua and Barbuda and, until the 2000s, was the only political party to have defeated the Antigua Labour Party in an election.

History

The party was established in 1968 under the leadership of George Walter and Donald Halstead, emerging from the Antigua Workers Union, which had been established in 1967 as a breakaway from the Antigua Labour Party-affiliated Antigua Trades and Labour Union.^[1]^[2] In the 1971 election, it won 57.7% of the vote and 13 of the 17 seats in the House of Representatives, the first time the Antigua Labour Party had lost an election. Walter became Prime Minister.

A series of corruption scandals involving PLM ministers, together with a severe economic downturn caused by the Oil Shock, led to a drop in support for the PLM. Nevertheless, it still managed to win a plurality of votes in the 1976 elections. However, despite receiving the most votes, it won only five seats, whilst the ALP won 11.^[3]

In the 1980 elections, the party lost more support, and won only three seats. A further slump saw them lose their parliamentary representation following the 1984 elections, in which they received only 356 votes.

It did not contest the 1989 elections and, in 1992 it was one of three parties that merged to form the United Progressive Party.^[4]

References

↑ Robert J. Alexander (1982) Political parties of the Americas: Guadeloupe-Virgin Islands of the United States, Greenwoord Press, p769
↑ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p61 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
↑ Nohlen, pp68-70
↑ Nohlen, p63

Political parties in Antigua and Barbuda
Current parties	Antigua Labour Party Barbuda People's Movement Organisation for National Development United Progressive Party
Defunct parties	Antigua and Barbuda Democratic Movement Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement Antigua Democratic Labour Party Antigua Freedom Party Antigua National Party Antigua People's Party Barbuda Democratic Movement Barbuda Independence Movement Barbuda People's Movement for Change National Reform Movement New Barbuda Development Movement Progressive Labour Movement United National Democratic Party United People's Movement
Portal:Politics List of political parties Politics of Antigua and Barbuda

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