The emphatic victory for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on 3 September vindicated the decision of Prime Minister Andrew Holness to call a snap election. The JLP won a huge majority in parliament, and will now be in a position to enact constitutional changes, sidelining the opposition. Not since 1980 has the People’s National Party (PNP) suffered such an ignominious defeat in a general election. There were several factors behind the result, not least the popularity of Holness. Jamaican voters also delivered a coruscating verdict on the PNP’s preparedness for power and the party’s populist policy proposals, as well as the prospect of veteran politician Peter Phillips, who had personally polled poorly, as prime minister. The magnitude of the defeat pushed Phillips into retirement.End of preview - This article contains approximately 680 words.
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