Belize elects opposition leader as next prime minister

Belize voters elected opposition leader Johnny Briceno to replace longtime Prime Minister Dean Barrow in a general election on Wednesday after the ruling party conceded defeat in the small Central American nation.

"While there were winners and losers, the democracy that we have continued to enjoy throughout the life of this great young nation, is by far the greatest winner today," Patrick Faber, leader of Barrow's conservative United Democratic Party (UDP), said in a concession speech posted on Facebook. Barrow, who is stepping down, ran Belize for more than a dozen years.

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