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Grenadian general election, 2008

Grenadian general election, 2008
Grenada
← 2003 July 8, 2008 2013 →

All 15 seats to the House of Representatives of Grenada
  First party Second party
  Tillman Thomas
Leader Tillman Thomas Keith Mitchell
Party NDC NNP
Last election 7 seats, 45.4% 8 seats, 47.8%
Seats won 11 4
Seat change +4 –4
Popular vote 29,007 27,189
Percentage 51.2% 48.0%
Swing +5.8% +0.2%

Grenadian general election map, 2008.svg
Colours denote the winning party, as shown in the main table of results.

PM before election

Keith Mitchell
NNP

Elected PM

Tillman Thomas
NDC


Keith Mitchell
NNP

Tillman Thomas
NDC

A general election was held in Grenada on 8 July 2008. Out of a total of fifteen seats, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) won eleven seats and the governing New National Party (NNP) won four seats, thus bringing the NDC to power for the first time since 1995. The NNP was looking for a fourth consecutive term in power, which would have been a first in Grenadian history.

In its election manifesto, which it debuted on June 25, 2008, the NNP promised the creation of 4,000 jobs, along with 4% growth in the economy.

A poll conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services from June 6 to June 9 showed the NNP with 36.4% support, the NDC with 32.3% support, the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) with 1.1% support, and the People's Labour Movement (PLM) with 0.8% support. The two later formed an electoral alliance, the Labour Platform.

The Organization of American States (OAS) observed the elections, and it described "the electoral process in Grenada during the General Elections as extremely positive, with relatively few areas that could be improved." All of the polling sites were observed, and voters were calm and well-behaved.

A political party in nearby Dominica, the People's Democratic Movement, attributed the victory to Mitchell's "arrogance, intolerance to criticism and lack of consultation with the people" during his time in office.

NDC leader Tillman Thomas succeeded the NNP's Keith Mitchell as Prime Minister of Grenada on July 9. He was sworn in at the Grenada Trade Centre in Grand Anse, St. George's by Governor-General Daniel Williams. On this occasion, Thomas promised "openness and transparency" and said that he would practice "the politics of inclusion". For his part, Mitchell said that the people voted for change and congratulated Thomas. Thomas's cabinet, composed of 17 members, was sworn in at the National Stadium on July 13. In addition to being Prime Minister, Thomas took the portfolios of Legal Affairs, National Security, Information, and Public Administration. Two members of non-governmental organizations who were not affiliated with the NDC were included in the cabinet: Franca Bernadine as Minister of Education and Human Resources, and Jimmy Bristol as Attorney-General.


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