How did the United Democratic Party become a major political party in Belize?

The United Democratic Party (UDP) was formed in 1973 and established itself as a major political force in Belize by successfully challenging the long-standing dominance of the People’s United Party (PUP), which had been the primary political party for the previous 30 years.12

Led by Manuel Esquivel, the UDP achieved its first major breakthrough by winning the 1984 general election. Since then, the party has remained a central pillar of the nation's two-party system, alternating power with the PUP in subsequent decades. The UDP is characterized as a centre-right party, though it shares little ideological difference with the centre-left PUP.134

The party’s influence has been bolstered by its ability to capitalize on public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government, such as when it triumphed in the 2008 elections under the leadership of Dean Barrow—who became the country's first Black prime minister—following accusations of corruption and economic instability within the previous administration.13