General elections were held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 15 June 1998.Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p600 Although the Unity Labour Party (ULP) received a majority of the public vote, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won a majority of seats, the first time the party receiving a majority of the vote had failed to win the elections since 1966. Voter turnout was 67%.Nohlen, p604

Campaign The ruling NDP led by Prime Minister James Mitchell was opposed by the ULP headed by Vincent Beache; the ULP had been founded in 1994 by a merger of the Movement for National Unity (MNU) and the Saint Vincent Labour Party. The election date had been announced on 18 May.

During the campaign, the NDP advocated tax cuts and the promotion of tourism and agricultural development, while the ULP called for job creation, economic development and improved social services.

Results When polling results giving the NDP eight seats and the ULP seven seats were announced, Beache declared that he could not accept the outcome and called for fresh elections, alleging voter intimidation, fraud, and bribery; this was promptly rebutted by the NDP. Final results showed the ULP had received 54.6% of valid votes.

By constituency ConstituencyULPNDPPWPValid Total Turnout RegisteredVotes%Votes%Votes%North Windward 1,817 49.2% 1,875 50.8% 3,692 3,704 79% 4,668North Central Windward 2,943 78.1% 827 21.9% 3,770 3,789 67% 5,697South Central Windward 1,811 48.5% 1,920 51.5% 3,731 3,751 70% 5,332South Windward 2,361 67.3% 1,102 31.4% 45 1.3% 3,508 3,521 69% 5,086Marriaqua 2,504 63.3% 1,453 36.7% 3957 3,966 69% 5,724East St. George 2,514 62.3% 1,522 37.7% 4,036 4,046 68% 5,993West St. George 2,366 62.5% 1,421 37.5% 3,787 3,803 65% 5,819East Kingstown 1,655 49.6% 1,682 50.4% 3,337 3,346 60% 5,552Central Kingstown 2,006 56.3% 1,558 43.7% 3,564 3,578 62% 5,792West Kingstown 1,502 47.0% 1,691 53.0% 3,193 3,208 59% 5,403South Leeward 2,014 48.8% 2,117 51.2% 4,131 4,147 69% 5,995Central Leeward 2,183 56.7% 1,670 43.3% 3,853 3,861 74% 5,225North Leeward 1,658 46.9% 1,880 53.1% 3,538 3,543 72% 4,932Northern Grenadines 220 11.7% 1,668 88.3% 1,888 1,898 59% 3,236Southern Grenadines 471 35.1% 872 64.9% 1,343 1,352 67% 2,015Total 28,025 54.6% 23,258 45.3% 45 0.1% 51,328 51,513 67% 76,469Source: Caribbean Elections

Aftermath On 17 June Mitchell was sworn in for his fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister; his new Cabinet took office the next day. In December 1998 Beache resigned as leader of the ULP, and Ralph Gonsalves was elected in his place. However, Beache remained as leader of the opposition in the House of Assembly.

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