List of political parties in Bermuda
Encyclopedia
This article lists political parties
in Bermuda
.
Bermuda has a two-party system
, which means that there are two dominant political parties: the Progressive Labour Party (PLP)
and the One Bermuda Alliance
(OBA). From 1968 — Bermuda's first party-based election — to 1998, the United Bermuda Party (UBP)
controlled Parliament. In 1998, it was supplanted by the slightly older PLP. Most UBP members merged with a breakaway party called the Bermuda Democratic Alliance
in 2011 to form the OBA. The PLP and OBA hold the vast majority of seats in the House of Assembly and are currently the only two parties with offices and organizations.
Another party, the Bermuda Democratic Party, contested the 1968 election but failed to win any seats and collapsed soon after, eventually to be replaced by the now-defunct National Liberal Party. In addition, several candidates have run as independents
, to varying success, or have formed temporary, one-man parties such as the Gombey Liberation Party
(or, in its later days, the National Liberal Party).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
.
Bermuda has a two-party system
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
, which means that there are two dominant political parties: the Progressive Labour Party (PLP)
Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
The Progressive Labour Party is a political party in Bermuda. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.- Formation :...
and the One Bermuda Alliance
One Bermuda Alliance
The One Bermuda Alliance is a political party in Bermuda. It is a result of a May 2011 merger of most members of Bermuda's two main opposition parties, the United Bermuda Party and the Bermuda Democratic Alliance. - History :...
(OBA). From 1968 — Bermuda's first party-based election — to 1998, the United Bermuda Party (UBP)
United Bermuda Party
The United Bermuda Party was a political party in Bermuda. It represented itself as centrist party in favor of a moderate social and fiscal agenda...
controlled Parliament. In 1998, it was supplanted by the slightly older PLP. Most UBP members merged with a breakaway party called the Bermuda Democratic Alliance
Bermuda Democratic Alliance
The Bermuda Democratic Alliance is a former political party in Bermuda which lasted from its foundation in November 2009 until its merger into the One Bermuda Alliance in May 2011.- History :...
in 2011 to form the OBA. The PLP and OBA hold the vast majority of seats in the House of Assembly and are currently the only two parties with offices and organizations.
Another party, the Bermuda Democratic Party, contested the 1968 election but failed to win any seats and collapsed soon after, eventually to be replaced by the now-defunct National Liberal Party. In addition, several candidates have run as independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, to varying success, or have formed temporary, one-man parties such as the Gombey Liberation Party
Gombey Liberation Party
The Gombey Liberation Party is a grassroots political party in Bermuda that contested the 2003 general election. The party did not contest the subsequent 2007 election and seems to be defunct, having never attained a seat in the Bermuda Parliament....
(or, in its later days, the National Liberal Party).
Parties Represented in the Legislature
- Progressive Labour PartyProgressive Labour Party (Bermuda)The Progressive Labour Party is a political party in Bermuda. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.- Formation :...
: black empowerment party, formed 1963, currently the governing party - One Bermuda AllianceOne Bermuda AllianceThe One Bermuda Alliance is a political party in Bermuda. It is a result of a May 2011 merger of most members of Bermuda's two main opposition parties, the United Bermuda Party and the Bermuda Democratic Alliance. - History :...
: formed by the merger of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance and former members of the United Bermuda Party in 2011, currently the Official Opposition - United Bermuda PartyUnited Bermuda PartyThe United Bermuda Party was a political party in Bermuda. It represented itself as centrist party in favor of a moderate social and fiscal agenda...
: multiracial party, formed 1964; currently with two Members of Parliament representing the party, but began to wind up operations in 2011 after most members defected to the One Bermuda Alliance
Historical parties
- National Liberal Party: defunct
- Bermuda Democratic Party: 1967 to 1970
- Gombey Liberation PartyGombey Liberation PartyThe Gombey Liberation Party is a grassroots political party in Bermuda that contested the 2003 general election. The party did not contest the subsequent 2007 election and seems to be defunct, having never attained a seat in the Bermuda Parliament....
: defunct, one-man grass roots movement - Bermuda Democratic AllianceBermuda Democratic AllianceThe Bermuda Democratic Alliance is a former political party in Bermuda which lasted from its foundation in November 2009 until its merger into the One Bermuda Alliance in May 2011.- History :...
: Political movement founded by seven concerned BermudiansBermuda Democratic AllianceThe Bermuda Democratic Alliance is a former political party in Bermuda which lasted from its foundation in November 2009 until its merger into the One Bermuda Alliance in May 2011.- History :...
, merging with the One Bermuda Alliance in 2011