The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers led the party.
The party was defeated in the 1986 General Elections, losing 33–3 to the National Alliance for Reconstruction. Under the leadership of Patrick Manning, the party returned to power in 1991 following the 1990 attempted coup by the Jamaat al-Muslimeen, but lost power in 1995 to the United National Congress.
The PNM lost again to the UNC in the 2000 General Elections, but a split in the UNC forced new elections in 2001. These elections resulted in an 18–18 tie between the PNM and the UNC, and President Arthur N.R. Robinson appointed Manning as Prime Minister. Manning was unable to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives, but won an outright majority in new elections held in 2002 and again in 2007, before losing office in 2010.
In 2010 Keith Rowley was appointed Political Leader and Leader of the Opposition, and led the 13 PNM (inclusive of himself and Manning) in Trinidad and Tobago's Parliament between 2010 and 2015.
The PNM returned to office in 2015 under their leader, Keith Rowley winning 23 of the 41 seats in the 2015 General Elections. As a result of the PNM victory at the polls, Rowley was sworn in by President Anthony Carmona, as the seventh Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago on 9 September 2015. |
 |
 |
Leader |
Keith ROWLEY |
Founder |
Eric WILLIAMS |
Founded |
22 June 1955 |
Party Colour |
Red |
Party Symbol |
Balisier flower (Heliconia) |
Newspaper |
Magnum |
Ideology |
Left-wing,
Liberalism, Social liberalism |
Political Position |
Centre-left |
House of Representatives seats 2015 |
23/41 |
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Youth Arm |
PNM Youth League |
Women's Arm |
PNM Women's League |
Status |
Active |
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