Premier David Burt has been re-elected as leader of Bermuda’s ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP), seeing off a spirited challenge from former Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson following a bruising campaign battle.
Deputy Premier Walter Roban, the Home Affairs Minister, also retained his No 2 party post after defeating former National Security Minister Cabinet Minister Renée Ming.
On Thursday night, PLP delegates and the party’s 30 MPs voted 97 to 56 in favour of Burt and 97 to 54 in favour of Roban.
Burt became Bermuda’s youngest-ever Premier at the age of 38 after leading the PLP to victory in the 2017 general election, ending the One Bermuda Alliance administration’s one term in office, and triumphed again when the PLP won a snap election in 2020 by an even bigger margin.
He has said he plans to step down as leader in 2026.
Burt, who took over the finance portfolio following Dickinson’s bombshell resignation in February just days before he was due to deliver the annual Budget, has been praised for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but his critics have accused him of arrogance.
