New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Barbados

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House of Assembly

This is a bicameral parliament. Switch to theSenate
Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
No
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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
24.05.2018
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
05.03.2018
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.05.2023
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
30
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
135
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
98
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
37
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
27.41%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
8

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
255,654

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
Ms. Mia Mottley's Barbados Labour Party (BLP) swept all 30 seats in the House of Assembly, ousting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart's Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which had ruled the country since 2008. On 25 May, Ms. Mottley was sworn in as the new Prime Minister, becoming the first woman in Barbados to assume the post. The 2018 elections were held amid slow recovery from the global economic crisis in 2008. The DLP ran on the government’s record, citing economic growth for eight consecutive quarters It promised to improve self-sufficiency in food products to 50% by 2026, which will mark 60 years of independence from the United Kingdom. The BLP criticized the DLP over taxation and the cost of living. It pledged to rebuild foreign currency reserves, bring tax relief, provide regular garbage collection and more buses for public transportation, and repair roads.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
1
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
12.5%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
100%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 30
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
24
Number of women elected
6
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
20%
Other notes
The five-year term of the outgoing House of Assembly started on 6 March 2013. Elections were due within 90 days from 5 March 2018
Sources
Parliament (25.05.2018) Barbados Electoral Department Reuters Caribbean Election, Barbados General Election Results (27.09.2018) Barbados Labour Party Democratic Labour Party
Women Directly Elected
6

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
24
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
6
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
05.06.2018
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Arthur Holder (Male)
Political party
Barbados Labour Party (BLP)
Date of election
05.06.2018