2025 Bermudian general election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Bermuda
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 2020 Bermudian general election
| previous_year = 2020
| election_date = {{Start date|2025|02|18}}
| next_election = 2030 Bermudian general election
| next_year = 2030
| seats_for_election = All 36 seats in the House of Assembly
| majority_seats = 19
| image1 = Edward David Burt 2017.jpg
| leader1 = Edward David Burt
| party1 = Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
| last_election1 = 62.09%, 30 seats
| seats1 = 25
| seat_change1 = {{decrease}} 5
| popular_vote1 = 12,300
| percentage1 = 49.64%
| swing1 = {{decrease}}12.45pp
| image2 =
| leader2 = Jarion Richardson
| party2 = One Bermuda Alliance
| last_election2 = 32.27%, 6 seats
| seats2 = 11
| seat_change2 = {{increase}} 5
| popular_vote2 = 9,133
| percentage2 = 36.86%
| swing2 = {{increase}}4.59pp
| map_image =
| map_caption =
| title = Premier
| before_election = Edward David Burt
| before_party = Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
| after_election = Edward David Burt
| after_party = Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
| turnout = 54.99% ({{decrease}} 6.21 pp)
}}{{Politics of Bermuda}}
General elections were held in Bermuda on 18 February 2025 to elect all 36 members of the House of Assembly.{{cite web|url=https://bbc.bm/general-election-called-for-february-18th-2025|title=General Election called for February 18th, 2025|work=Bermuda Broadcasting Company|date=8 January 2025|access-date=14 January 2025}}
Background
Prior to the election, the PLP was the dominant party in Bermudian politics, having unseated the OBA in the 2017 general election. In the subsequent 2020 election, the PLP expanded its majority to 30 seats.
Premier Edward David Burt has governed Bermuda since winning the 2017 general election. He has announced on October 19, 2022, his intention to step down as PLP leader in 2026.{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Shaun |date=2022-10-19 |title=David Burt commits to stepping aside in 2026 but insists he will be no lame-duck leader |url=https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20221019/david-burt-commits-to-stepping-aside-in-2026-but-insists-he-will-be-no-lame-duck-leader/https:/www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20221019/david-burt-commits-to-stepping-aside-in-2026-but-insists-he-will-be-no-lame-duck-leader/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.royalgazette.com |language=en-US}}
Electoral system
The House of Assembly has 36 members, elected by first-past-the-post voting from single-member constituencies.[https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3096/ Bermuda: Election for Bermudian House of Assembly] IFES
Campaign
The 2025 general election featured a record-setting 109 candidates, including representatives from the PLP, OBA, FDM, and numerous independents.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-16 |title=Interactive Map: Candidates & Constituencies |url=https://bernews.com/2025/02/interactive-map-candidates-constituencies/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Bernews}} Emperial Group filed a single candidate.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Jonathan |date=2025-02-08 |title=OBA acknowledges Emperial Group’s support of candidate |url=https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20250208/oba-acknowledges-emperial-groups-support-of-candidate/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.royalgazette.com |language=en-US}}
Economic issues, particularly the cost of living and social programs, were central to the campaign. While the PLP emphasized efforts to reduce high costs and highlighted its governing record on fairness, the OBA criticized the government's handling of economic and social issues, positioning itself as an alternative to improve governance.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-17 |title=Premier Delivers Closing Campaign Remarks |url=https://bernews.com/2025/02/premier-delivers-closing-campaign-remarks/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Bernews}}{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Communications |date=2025-01-08 |title=Bermuda General Election 2025 - One Bermuda Alliance |url=https://oba.bm/media/bermuda-general-election-2025/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |language=en-GB}}
Political analysts predicted a closer contest compared to the 2020 election, suggesting that while the PLP was expected to retain power, its victory margin would narrow.{{Cite web |last=Finighan |first=Gareth |date=2025-02-15 |title=Commentators: PLP will lose seats but still win election |url=https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20250215/commentators-plp-will-lose-seats-but-still-win-election/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=www.royalgazette.com |language=en-US}}
Contesting parties
| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Party !Position !Ideology !Last election |
| bgcolor="{{party color|Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)}}" |
|Social conservatism{{Cite web |date=8 November 2018 |title=Bermuda's government fights against same-sex marriage in Court of Appeal |url=https://www.wral.com/bermuda-s-government-fights-against-same-sex-marriage-in-court-of-appeal/17979020/}} |{{Composition bar|30|36|{{party color|Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)}}|per=2}} |
| bgcolor="{{party color|One Bermuda Alliance}}" |
|{{Composition bar|6|36|{{party color|One Bermuda Alliance}}|per=2}} |
| bgcolor="#EAC117" |
|Conservative liberalism |{{Composition bar|0|36|#EAC117|per=2}} |
Results
{{Election results
|image=File:Bermudes Assemblée 2025.svg
|party1=Progressive Labour Party|votes1=12300|seats1=25|sc1=–5
|party2=One Bermuda Alliance|votes2=9133|seats2=11|sc2=+5
|party3=Free Democratic Movement|votes3=949|seats3=0|sc3=0|color3=#EAC117
|party4=Emperial Group|votes4=116|seats4=0|sc4=New|color4=#444
|party5=Independents|votes5=2281|seats5=0|sc5=0
|total_sc=0
|invalid=0
|electorate=45064
|source=[https://elections.gov.bm/results/GE-2025-01 Parliamentary Registry]
}}
Reactions
{{Wikinews|New cabinet formed in Bermuda following election}}
In a speech outside party headquarters after the election, David Burt reaffirmed his party's commitment to focus on tackling the high cost of living, expensive healthcare, and reform the education system. He emphasized his party’s support for lower and middle-class residents and declared that "Bermudians have chosen progress, fairness, and a PLP government that will deliver for you."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-19 |title=Bermuda's center-left PLP wins third consecutive general election |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/bermudas-center-left-plp-wins-143556591.html |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=Burgess |first=Don |date=February 19, 2025 |title=Bermuda's center-left PLP wins third consecutive general election |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/bermudas-center-left-plp-wins-third-consecutive-general-election-2025-02-19/ |website=Reuters}}
Jarion Richardson, leader of the One Bermuda Alliance (OBA), acknowledged the election results and reaffirmed his party’s commitment to Bermuda. He pledged to serve as a "strong and dedicated opposition" and encouraged OBA candidates, both elected and unelected, to remain engaged in efforts to strengthen the party and the country.{{Cite web |last=McWhirter |first=Fiona |date=2025-02-19 |title=Third time’s a charm as Burt savours victory for PLP |url=https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20250218/burt-leads-plp-to-election-victory/ |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.royalgazette.com |language=en-US}}