Antigua and Barbuda is officially on the path to a general election after Governor General Sir Rodney Williams signed a proclamation dissolving Parliament on March 31, 2026. According to Antigua.news, the dissolution took effect on April 1, formally starting the constitutional clock on the electoral process.
The proclamation was published in an Extraordinary edition of the Official Gazette on the morning of April 1 and was issued on the advice of the Prime Minister, in accordance with the Constitution.
Under the Constitution, at least 21 days must pass between the issuance of the Writ of Election and the holding of a general election. A general election must also be held within three months of dissolution. The Prime Minister has previously indicated that elections would take place 21 days after the writ is issued.
The Prime Minister had initially intended to move sooner but reconsidered after colleagues recommended giving the main opposition, the United Progressive Party, additional time to finalise its slate of candidates and organise its affairs.
The decision to dissolve Parliament comes ahead of the constitutional deadline. The last general election was held on January 18, 2023, and while the next election was not strictly required until 2028, the Prime Minister holds the authority to call elections earlier by advising the Governor General to dissolve Parliament.
With Parliament now dissolved, attention turns to the announcement of an official polling date.
