Political Career
Gonsalves became involved in politics at university, as president of the University of West Indies' Guild of Undergraduates and Debating Society. In 1968 Gonsalves led a student protest of the deportation of historian and intellectual Walter Rodney by the Jamaican government.
In 1994 Gonsalves became the deputy leader of the ULP. After the resignation of Vincent Beache, Gonsalves became leader of the party in 1998. Gonsalves later led the ULP to win the 2001 general election, becoming prime minister. Gonsalves' ULP was re-elected in the 2005 general election. In the 2010 general election, Gonsalves and the ULP were narrowly re-elected with 51.11% of the popular vote.
In 2009 Gonsalves and the ULP led a referendum campaign in favour of constitutional reform that would have abolished the country's constitutional monarchy, replacing Elizabeth II with a non-executive president. The referendum was defeated, with 55.64% of voters rejecting the changes.
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