In a move that has startled few but stirred the political scene nonetheless, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has dissolved Parliament and set Barbados on course for its third general election in just eight years. February 11, 2026, is the date she has chosen—a full year before her government’s mandate expires.
The decision signals Mottley’s characteristic strategy: strike while the political iron is hot. Having already secured two historic 30-0 sweeps in 2018 and 2022 under the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), the Prime Minister appears keen on securing a third term before the winds of uncertainty have any chance to shift.
This latest election call also comes amid a recalibration of the political opposition. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP), long in search of traction, now finds itself under the leadership of Ralph Thorne—a former ally-turned-rival who defected from the BLP in early 2024. While Thorne’s recent elevation has given the DLP a flicker of relevance, it remains to be seen whether his leadership can translate into votes or seats.
Mottley has moved quickly to refresh her party’s slate, with new candidates selected in key constituencies like St Thomas and St Joseph. The final piece was locked in with the nomination of Attorney Michael Lashley, another former DLP figure, who joined the BLP ranks last year. With all 30 BLP candidates now in place, the party appears “red and ready,” as Mottley has often declared.
At a rousing gathering in Westbury Primary School, the Prime Minister formally announced January 27 as Nomination Day and confirmed the dissolution of Parliament would be finalized by January 19. Her declaration came with the usual flair, delivered before an energized crowd and framed as a democratic necessity: “You must come back for a new mandate,” she said, “and if you want to come back to us for a new mandate, then you must.”
Observers have long speculated that an early election was imminent. Mottley herself hinted as much at a December gathering, telling party faithful to rest up because “2026 is a working year.” That message has now materialized into a national campaign.
Political analyst Peter Wickham suggests the real suspense this time isn’t about who will win, but by what margin. “The conversation now is whether the opposition can grab even a single seat,” he said. The dominance of the BLP has become so entrenched that the concept of competitive elections has become less about victory and more about margin.
Still, no snap election is without risk. Voter fatigue, intra-party dissent, and unexpected developments on the campaign trail could disrupt even the most well-oiled machine. But if Mottley is betting on momentum and strategic timing—as she has before—she’s playing a game she knows well.
Barbados now braces for another political showdown. Whether it ends in another red sweep or marks the beginning of a political shift, February 11 will reveal the public’s appetite for continuity—or change.
