Senior members of the Free National Movement (FNM) are calling on former party leader Dr. Hubert Minnis to withdraw from the upcoming leadership race scheduled for June 1 or face potential embarrassment if he loses to current leader, Michael Pintard.
According to insiders, some of the party’s significant financial backers are disillusioned with Minnis, accusing him of using their support to get elected, only to later alienate his core supporters once he became prime minister after the 2017 General Election.
They claim that Minnis surrounded himself with a close-knit group of loyalists, ignoring the broader needs of party members and voters, which contributed to his political downfall.
Despite Minnis' confidence in his re-election prospects, key FNM figures say that he stands little chance against Pintard.
They argue that Pintard has successfully re-engaged many FNM supporters who were disillusioned and abstained from voting in the 2021 General Election.
These party heavyweights believe Pintard has a stronger connection with the grassroots, revitalizing the party base.
Minnis will host an extravagant campaign launch at Baha Mar over the weekend and has been actively grandstanding in the House of Assembly, seemingly to outshine Pintard.
His campaign tactics, however, have done little to quell the calls for his withdrawal.
Minnis led the FNM from 2012 until 2021, but his tenure as prime minister was marked by declining popularity due to his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, leading to a significant electoral defeat and his subsequent resignation as party leader.
Former associates of Minnis contend that his leadership style became increasingly authoritarian and disconnected from the party’s rank and file.
They fear that his current bid for leadership could cause further division within the party rather than fostering unity.
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