New National Party (Grenada)
Encyclopedia
The New National Party is a conservative
political party
in Grenada
. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell
.
The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party
, led by Herbert Blaize
, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan
, and the Grenada Democratic Movement
(GDM), led by Francis Alexis
. Led by Blaize, the NNP won 14 out of 15 seats in the December 1984 general election
, and Blaize became Prime Minister. Mitchell was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989, defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize
. In the 1990 general election
, the NNP won two seats and was left in opposition.
The party was victorious in the 1995 general election
, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives
, and Mitchell became Prime Minister. After the NNP lost its majority due to the resignation of Raphael Fletcher, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in November 1998, an early election
was called for January 1999, and the NNP won all 15 seats with about 62% of the vote. The NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one seat parliamentary majority.
In the general election held on 27 November 2003, the party won 48.0% of the popular vote and 8 out of 15 seats. In the July 2008 general election, the party lost to the National Democratic Congress
(NDC), winning four seats against 11 for the NDC. NDC leader Tillman Thomas
succeeded Mitchell as Prime Minister of Grenada.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
political 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 Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell
Keith Mitchell
Keith Claudius Mitchell is a Grenadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Grenada from 1995 to 2008. He was the longest serving Prime Minister Grenada has ever had, serving just over 13 years as Prime Minister...
.
The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party
Grenada National Party
-History:The party was founded in 1955 and took its support from the urban middle class and landowners. It first contested national elections in 1957 when it won two of the eight seats, tied with the Grenada United Labour Party and the People's Democratic Movement. Its leader Herbert Blaize became...
, led by Herbert Blaize
Herbert Blaize
Herbert Augustus Blaize was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960-61, and again, from 1962-67. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly...
, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan
George Brizan
George Ignatius Brizan, CMG, CBE is a Grenadian political figure who served as the Caribbean island nation's Prime Minister for four months in 1995...
, and the Grenada Democratic Movement
Grenada Democratic Movement
The Grenada Democratic Movement , chaired by Dr. Francis Alexis, emerged in May 1983 as an alliance of various exile groups opposed to the Maurice Bishop regime...
(GDM), led by Francis Alexis
Francis Alexis
Dr. Francis Alexis, Grenadian politician and lawyer, currently serves as President of the Grenada Bar Association. He is also the leader of the Democratic Labour Party ....
. Led by Blaize, the NNP won 14 out of 15 seats in the December 1984 general election
Grenadian general election, 1984
General elections were held in Grenada on 3 December 1984, the first after the invasion that followed two coups. The result was a victory for the New National Party, which won 14 of the 15 seats. Voter turnout was 86.2%.-Results:...
, and Blaize became Prime Minister. Mitchell was elected as leader of the NNP in January 1989, defeating Prime Minister Herbert Blaize
Herbert Blaize
Herbert Augustus Blaize was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960-61, and again, from 1962-67. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly...
. In the 1990 general election
Grenadian general election, 1990
General elections were held in Grenada on 13 March 1990. The result was a victory for the National Democratic Congress, which won seven of the 15 seats. Voter turnout was 68.4%.-Results:...
, the NNP won two seats and was left in opposition.
The party was victorious in the 1995 general election
Grenadian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Grenada on 20 June 1995. The result was a victory for the New National Party, which won eight of the 15 seats. Voter turnout was 61.7%.-Results:...
, winning eight out of 15 seats in the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of Grenada
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The members are, for each seat and party, listed below:-Summary 2008 election:...
, and Mitchell became Prime Minister. After the NNP lost its majority due to the resignation of Raphael Fletcher, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in November 1998, an early election
Grenadian general election, 1999
General elections were held in Grenada on 18 January 1999. The governing New National Party of Prime Minister Keith Mitchell was re-elected after winning all 15 seats. Voter turnout was 56.5%.-Background:...
was called for January 1999, and the NNP won all 15 seats with about 62% of the vote. The NNP narrowly won a third term in power in the November 2003 election, reduced to a one seat parliamentary majority.
In the general election held on 27 November 2003, the party won 48.0% of the popular vote and 8 out of 15 seats. In the July 2008 general election, the party lost to the National Democratic Congress
National Democratic Congress (Grenada)
The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
(NDC), winning four seats against 11 for the NDC. NDC leader Tillman Thomas
Tillman Thomas
Tillman Joseph Thomas is a Grenadian politician, currently serving as Prime Minister of Grenada. He is also the leader of the National Democratic Congress .-Biography:...
succeeded Mitchell as Prime Minister of Grenada.