Will Briceño call elections at Friday’s House Sitting?

The Briceño administration has scheduled a special sitting of the House of Representatives for this Friday, February 7, 2025. The public has been anticipating an announcement regarding the upcoming general elections, and there is speculation that Prime Minister John Briceño may use this session to make such a declaration.

However, opinions differ on the timing of this potential announcement.

Some observers suggest that announcing the election during the House sitting might be unwise, as the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has planned a demonstration in Belmopan on the same day. The BNTU voted overwhelmingly in December 2024 to hold demonstrations in January 2025, expressing frustration over delayed increments, allowances, and salary upgrades.

Others propose that Prime Minister Briceño might announce the election before Friday and utilise the special sitting to dissolve parliament.

During an appearance on Open Your Eyes, Briceño stated that he has been consulting with close advisors, Cabinet members, and campaign officials to assess readiness. “We’ve done our complete assessment, and the national campaign manager, we’ve finished in December. So there’s a state of readiness in our constituencies, and most of them are pretty much almost there. And then also I’ve consulted Cabinet, not as a group but as individuals to feel them out on how they think,” he said.

Previously he said, “Whilst I have not decided, I think it will be more towards the first half of this year.” Briceño also stated that this might be his last election. “If you were to ask me today, I would tell you that probably, quite likely, it is going to be my last election. At least that is my plan, my hope, and even within my family.”