The Alliance For Change is rejecting the perception that its demands led to the breakdown of Coalition talks with the APNU.

In a statement today, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes said the AFC never demanded the Presidency in a coalition. He also said there was never any insistence that the AFC’s nominee must lead the coalition.

Mr. Hughes said on the contrary, the AFC has consistently advocated for a consensus candidate—one who commands broad national respect and credibility, and who represents a genuine third-party alternative to entrenched political positions. He did not say why the AFC prefers a consensus candidate over the PNC’s Presidential Candidate.

However, he said the AFC proposed multiple independent and qualified Guyanese as potential consensus candidates, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice President Carl Greenidge.

He said none of the proposals was accepted by the APNU. He said it is a matter of public record that there was only one party that insisted on a specific candidate without compromise, which he said hindered meaningful progress toward unity.

Hughes also stated that it is inaccurate for persons to claim the AFC has placed personal ambition over national interest, adding that his party and its calls have always been consistent for principled, policy-based collaboration.

“While we recognize that the AFC, like all political movements, must continuously work to broaden its support, it is disingenuous to suggest that electoral viability hinges solely on historic polling. The AFC brings policy depth, principled leadership, and a track record of governance reform, all of which are essential to any coalition seeking to deliver results for the people of Guyana,” the AFC Leader said.

Mr. Hughes said the AFC remains open to continued dialogue and believes that in a Coalition that is based on mutual respect and shared values.

There have also been reports that that when the talks started, the AFC demanded a 55% stake in the allocation of seats and positions after the elections. News Source understands that the APNU countered the AFC’s position with a 70-30 distribution ration, with the AFC being given the smaller allocation.

Last Friday, the PNC Reform Leader, Aubrey Norton, said the APNU remains open to further discussions on a possible coalition ahead of the September elections.

The two sides were in talks for several months, but those talks ended with no agreement in place.

Related posts:

WPA supportive of clear criteria for Coalition Presidential Candidate -Dr. Hinds Norton sees need for clear criteria to be identified for Coalition Presidential Candidate Any coalition consensus candidate will likely come from the PNC -says Norton Norton not opposed to possible “consensus Presidential Candidate” for the APNU at next elections