The defeat of Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Monday’s general election raises questions about whether she will remain as leader of the UNC.
Now that the general election is over, political analyst Dr Maukesh Basdeo says emphasis may be placed on the holding of internal elections.
In an interview, Basdeo said he could not say who had the best chance of succeeding Persad-Bissessar. “I can’t say that. The general secretary and the national assembly will determine that,” he said. With four electoral defeats under her belt, Basdeo added, it might be only a matter of time before calls are made for someone else to lead the UNC.
“The party should give a statement on how it would move forward and when it will have elections. Anyone in the party will be a likely candidate,” Basdeo said. He noted that the UNC had postponed its internal elections to review its constitution as well as to facilitate the general election.
Meanwhile, the UNC’s campaign strategist Rodney Charles said yesterday the UNC would focus on introspection before deciding its next move.
“This matter is for the party to decide. It will be dealt with in due course. Right now the party will reflect and do the necessary introspection so that we can return to government in 2020 or earlier,” Charles said.
Asked by reporters on Monday night whether the UNC would be holding internal elections, Persad-Bissessar said this would be decided later. She said it was too early to say whether she would be re-contesting the post of political leader. Persad-Bissessar’s predecessors Basdeo Panday and Patrick Manning were both removed from their posts after failing to win elections in 2007 and 2010.