Editing Said Musa (section)

===Leader of the People's United Party and Prime Minister of Belize===

Musa was elected and took over leadership of the PUP upon Price's retirement from party leadership in 1996, defeating Price's longtime lieutenant [[Florencio Marin]] in the leadership election in 1996.<ref name="krembz">{{cite web |url=http://www.krembz.com/rt-hon-george-cadle-price-a-legend/ |title=Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price – a legend |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118214727/http://www.krembz.com/rt-hon-george-cadle-price-a-legend/ |archive-date=18 November 2018 |website=[[Krem Radio]] |date=24 September 2011 |access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref> Musa then led the PUP to landslide [[Elections in Belize|election]] victories in [[1998 Belizean general election|1998]] and [[2003 Belizean general election|2003]].

Musa led Belize to significant growth over his near-decade long term in office, but his popularity declined during his last years in office due in part to increasing public perception of corruption among his Cabinet and within his party.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Labelle|first1=Hugette|title=Persistent corruption in low-income countries requires global action|url=https://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/20070925_persistent_corruption_in_low_income_countries_requires_global_acti|website=Transparency International|date=25 September 2007 |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140723132524/https://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/20070925_persistent_corruption_in_low_income_countries_requires_global_acti |archive-date=2014-07-23 |quote=Countries with a significant worsening in perceived levels of corruption in 2007 include Austria, Bahrain, Belize...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=People's National Party to contest election in 2008|url=http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/7661|access-date=20 June 2016|work=News 5|date=12 February 2007|quote=Of note is the fact that all three third parties are running on a platform of anti-corruption.|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160817030319/http://edition.channel5belize.com/archives/7661 |archive-date=2016-08-17}}</ref> He was also accused of abandoning his previous socialist stances in favour of [[neoliberalism|neoliberal]] policies as prime minister.<ref name="neoliberalism">{{cite web |author=Hyde, Evan X |url=http://amandala.com.bz/news/publisher-31/ |title=From The Publisher |work=[[Amandala]] |date=11 December 2012 |access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>

Outside of Belize Musa chaired several regional organisations, including [[CARICOM]] and the [[Central American Integration System]] (SICA).

Musa again led the PUP in the [[2008 Belizean legislative election|election]] held on 7 February 2008, but the PUP suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the UDP, led by [[Dean Barrow]] winning only six out of 31 seats.<ref name="Landslide">{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/09/america/LA-POL-Belize-Elections.php |title=Belize's opposition party wins landslide in congressional elections |agency=Associated Press |work=International Herald Tribune |date=9 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603063521/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/09/america/LA-POL-Belize-Elections.php |archive-date=3 June 2008 }}</ref> Musa himself was re-elected in the Fort George constituency.<ref name=Day/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=6602 |title=CONFIRMED WINNERS |work=Amandala Online |date=8 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522035350/http://www.amandala.com.bz/index.php?id=6602 |archive-date=22 May 2011 }}</ref> UDP leader [[Dean Barrow]] succeeded Musa and was sworn in as 4th prime minister of Belize by [[Governor-General of Belize]], [[Colville Young]] on 8 February 2008.<ref name="Landslide" />