Manning to resign the party leadership, and for calls for Mottley to replace him. Manning declined to resign and Mottley appeared to have taken a sabbatical from politics. When leadership elections were held in 1997 Manning was challenged by Keith Rowley. Manning was returned as Political Leader. In 2000 the PNM suffered another defeat, winning 16 of 36 seats with 46% of the vote. Another election was held in 2001 which resulted in a tie with both the PNM and UNC winning 18 seats, the PNM with 46% of the electoral vote and the UNC with 50%. However President Arthur N.R. Robinson appointed Manning as Prime Minister on the basis of "moral and spiritual grounds". (In Trinidad and Tobago's elections, the number of seats needed to occupy the lower house is really the best indicator of whether or not a party would win elections). Unable to elect a Speaker, Manning advised the President to prorogue Parliament. On 7 October 2002 General Elections were held in which the PNM won 50.7% of popular votes and 20 out of 36 seats. In government since 2015 On 9 September 2015, Keith Rowley was sworn in as the new Prime Minister, following the election victory of the PNM. In August 2020, the governing PNM won the following general election, leading to the incumbent Prime Minister Keith Rowley serving a second term. Leaders of the People's National Movement The political leaders of the People's National Movement have been as follows (any acting leaders indicated in italics): Key: PM: Prime Minister LO: Leader of the Opposition †: Died in office Deputy leaders of the People's National Movement The deputy political leaders of the People's National Movement have been as follows (any acting leaders indicated in italics): Tobago Council leaders The deputy political leaders who additionally served as the political leaders of the Tobago Council of the People's National Movement have been as follows (any acting leaders indicated in italics): Key: MaL: Majority Leader MiL: Minority Leader PNM Leadership Executive Committee Youth Arm Women's Arm Tobago Council of the People's National Movement Tobago has its own PNM party with separate memberships, constituency associations, executives, offices and a political leader. Electoral history House of Representatives West Indies Corporations Tobago House of Assembly See also 2022 People's National Movement leadership election 2020 Tobago Council of the People's National Movement leadership election References External links PNM Website (Archive) Vision PNM