The Free Democratic Movement has confirmed that it will not be putting forward a candidate to contest next month’s Smith’s North by-election.

The party has dismissed suggestions that it is not contesting the seat to give independent candidate Sir John Swan, the former premier, a clearer path to victory.

An FDM spokesman said that the party was instead focusing its energies on the next General Election, which must be called before October next year.

Sir John confirmed on Monday that he will be standing as an independent when Smith’s North voters go to the polls on May 22.

The seat became vacant after the resignation of One Bermuda Alliance MP and former premier Michael Dunkley last month.

The Progressive Labour Party’s Lindsay Simmons and the OBA’s Robert King have been named as candidates for the ruling and opposition parties.

In a statement issued last night, the FDM spokesman said that Marc Bean, the party’s leader, had given Sir John his best wishes.

The spokesman added: “Sir John is correct when he states that FDM leader Marc Bean wished him well in his political activity. Before and after Sir John indicated that he was considering running in the upcoming by-election in Constituency 10, Marc Bean wished him well.

“For the sake of clarity, the FDM has never expressed that the reason for not running a candidate was in support of Sir John's independent candidacy.

“The FDM has its own reasons and political strategy for not contesting the by-election, namely that it is focused on the General Election and becoming the next government of Bermuda.

“Our position reaffirms the idea that organised, group effort, combined with principled thinking and actions, is the most effective path towards the renewal of Bermuda.

“We are grateful to Sir John for his service to Bermuda and welcome any future advice from him as we, through the will of the people, become Bermuda's next government.”

Mr Bean announced that the FDM was on an election footing at a press conference last month.

A former leader of the PLP, Mr Bean formed the FDM in September 2020 after David Burt, the Premier, called a snap election for the following month.

The fledgeling party was able to field 14 candidates in the October 1 vote, and although it did not secure any seats, it beat the One Bermuda Alliance into second place in four constituencies.

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