Dates of last and next legislative elections: L. House 2003/2008
U. House 2003/2008

Head of state: H.M. Queen Elizabeth II

AT THE LAST ELECTION

The PUP negotiated Belize's independence from the UK in 1981. Since then, control of the government has swung between the PUP and the UDP, in the absence of any major ideological or policy distinctions. The PUP, under Said Musa, won a crushing victory in 1998 and gained a historic second term in 2003, with a slightly reduced majority. Major political issues include a rise in narcotics-related crimes and political corruption. The controversial practice of selling Belizean passports under the "economic citizenship" program was finally suspended in 2002.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004