BELIZE: CORRUPTION SPAWNS NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BELMOPAN 000657 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN - ROIS BEAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BH SUBJECT: BELIZE: CORRUPTION SPAWNS NEW POLITICAL PARTIES REF: (06) BELIZE 994 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Frustration with repeated corruption scandals has generated several new third party movements in Belize. A noteworthy development is a recent alliance designed to give third parties a stronger voice acting together. However, this alliance is not likely to make an impact on the two-party system as the third party movement remains disorganized and splintered. The third parties may actually end up diluting the anti-government vote and helping the incumbent party. End Summary. -------------- -------------- Overview of Third Parties and Alliances in Belize -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Alternative political movements are not new to Belize and several parties were recently formed with anti-corruption agendas in response to recurring scandals and anticipation of upcoming general elections. None of the third parties have garnered significant vote tallies in the past and the two major parties -- the governing People's United Party and opposition United Democratic Party -- continue to dominate. ¶3. (U) On October 3 the National Belizean Alliance (NBA) was established in an attempt to bring the fragmented third parties together. The NBA was established by the leaders of the People's National Party (PNP),We the People Reform Movement (WTP),and the Party of Christians Pursuing Reform (CPR). According to the elected leader of the NBA, the intent of the alliance is to unite parties that may win in individual constituencies so they may form a more cohesive group in parliament. So far, the NBA claims to have eighteen candidates in the alliance. ¶4. (U) The Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) party, established in 2005, has the best chance to affect the outcome in a single constituency. The party ran in the Belmopan constituency in the 2006 municipal elections and to the surprise of many, did extremely well garnering 19.5 percent of the total votes cast. The VIP plans to run in Belmopan and four other constituencies in the upcoming national elections. ¶5. (U) The National Reform Party (NRP) is a Christian-based political party established in 2006. The NRP is contesting 19 parliamentary seats and claims to be fielding more candidates than all other third parties in Belize. The party is funded primarily by its leader (reftel) and has little chance of winning a single seat. ¶6. (U) The People's National Party (PNP) was established in February ¶2007. The party leader, Wil Maheia, is the founder of the Toledo Institute for Development and the Environment and is the driving force behind the NBA. He appears to be one of the most organized and charismatic leaders of a third party and has received favorable press in the Amandala, a leading newspaper. The PNP plans on contesting two seats in the Toledo district and hopes to capitalize on strong name recognition in the southern part of the country. ¶7. (U) The We the People Reform Movement (WTP) is unique as it claims not to be a political party. The movement was established in 2003 and contested the 2003 general elections and 2006 municipal elections in northern Belize and lost badly. The party has announced plans to contest one seat. ¶8. (U) The Party of Christians Pursuing Reform (CPR) also forms part of the National Belizean Alliance. Only the CPR party leader appears to be a candidate in the Belmopan constituency where he will be directly competing with the popular VIP. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Despite repeated corruption scandals involving the two main parties, the third party movement remains disorganized and splintered. Platforms are generally non-existent and consist primarily of vague anti-corruption sentiments. Although the NBA is an encouraging step, the movement so far lacks the ability to bring the many parties together with a single ideology and party platform. Only by becoming a cohesive third option with collective campaigning power would they have any chance for success. Unless that happens, the more likely scenario is that the new alliance will further weaken third parties and confuse voters. In the end, the third parties may merely dilute the anti-government vote and help swing a few constituencies to the incumbent party. BELMOPAN 00000657 002 OF 002 DIETER