New political party WIN becomes main opposition in Guyana after election
Key Points(5)
- The three-month-old political party We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) has emerged as the main opposition in Guyana’s National Assembly following the September 1 general and regional elections, signaling a potential shake-up in the country’s political landscape.
- WIN, led by 38-year-old US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, won 16 seats in the 65-member Parliament.
- The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured a second consecutive victory, taking 36 seats, while the former main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was reduced to 12 seats.
- The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) captured a single seat.
- Under Guyana’s proportional representation system, 40 legislators are elected from a nationwide constituency and 25 from 10 geographical constituencies.
The three-month-old political party We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) has emerged as the main opposition in Guyana’s National Assembly following the September 1 general and regional elections, signaling a potential shake-up in the country’s political landscape.
WIN, led by 38-year-old US-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, won 16 seats in the 65-member Parliament. The ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) secured a second consecutive victory, taking 36 seats, while the former main opposition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), was reduced to 12 seats. The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) captured a single seat.
Under Guyana’s proportional representation system, 40 legislators are elected from a nationwide constituency and 25 from 10 geographical constituencies.
The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) said WIN faces the challenge of transitioning from an electoral campaign to functioning as a parliamentary party. “Few of its members are household names, and even fewer have prior legislative experience,” the group said in a statement.
However, GHRA noted that WIN’s rise reflects strong support from economically marginalized communities and praised its community-based campaign strategy, which helped counter the PPP/C’s sustained efforts to pressure and penalize its membership.
“Beyond policy positions, WIN’s rise may help reduce decades-long ethnic polarization between Afro- and Indo-Guyanese communities, an unexpected but welcome development,” the human rights group said.
The GHRA also highlighted ongoing concerns about the use of state resources during the election, including state media, government vehicles, and personnel used to advance the ruling party’s campaign. The association warned that without sustained reforms and advocacy, future elections in Guyana could remain vulnerable to abuses of state resources and the influence of money.
WIN’s unexpected success marks a significant shift in Guyana’s political landscape and will test the party’s ability to navigate the National Assembly while representing its constituency effectively.
