Trinidad and Tobago

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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): 07 Sep 2015
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 17 Jun 2015
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake: 41
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election: 17
Total number of candidates: 132

Notes: Timing of election: Upon normal expiry. According to the Constitution, Parliament is dissolved five years after the date of the first sitting (i.e., by 17 June 2015), and a general election takes place within three months of the dissolution.

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 1,099,279
Voters: 734,985
Voter turnout: 66.9%

Results

About the election: The People's National Movement (PNM), led by Mr. Keith Rowley, regained power after five years in opposition, taking 23 of 41 seats at stake. The PNM led the country to independence in 1962 and held power for most of the next half century. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's People's Partnership (PP, see note) took the remaining 18 seats. On 9 September, Mr. Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister.

During the election campaign, the major parties focused on social policies, measures to tackle corruption and violent crime, as well as ways to diversify the country’s oil-based economy.

Note:

The People's Partnership is a coalition comprising the Prime Minister's United National Congress-Alliance (UNC), the Congress of the People (COP), Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC). In 2015, the UNC took 17 seats and the COP, one seat.
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Percentage of parties winning seats: 11.8%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 56.1%
Alternation of power after elections: Yes
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: People's National Movement (PNM)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
People's National Movement (PNM)	23
People's Partnership	18

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 29
Number of women elected: 13
Percentage of women elected: 31.0%
Women Directly Elected: 12
Women in other categories: 1
Other notes on the elections: Expected date of next elections: October December 2020. Within three months after the dissolution of the House of Representatives which will serve a five-year term from the date of the first sitting.

The 'Distribution of seats' above refers to the 41 directly elected members. The 'Distribution of seats according to sex' refers to all 42 members of the House of Representatives (41 directly elected members and the Speaker). Ms. Bridgid Annisette-George, who was not one of the directly elected members, became a member of the House by virtue of her election as Speaker.
Sources: Parliament (17.09.2015, 25.09.2015)

Elections and Boundaries Commission

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 29
Total number of women after the election: 13
Percentage of women after the election: 31.0%
First-term parliamentarians: No information available
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: No information available
Date of the first session: 23 Sep 2015

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Bridgid Annisette-George (Female)
Date of birth: 1958
Date of election: 23 Sep 2015