In his appointment statement, ReuHR pledged to take the party in a “new direction”, but his remarks have prompted a public response from his predecessor.
Sunissance, who led the party through two election victories and served as Prime Minister, said she had initially wished her successor well but described parts of the statement as “unfortunate and a bit shocking to read”.
She said: “Despite my term as Prime Minister being rocky to say the least, the party has been in good spirits. I think slandering the party and its brand for zero reason, when I had won the party two elections, throws the work I put into rebuilding the party back in my face.”
Sunissance also said that ReuHR had later clarified his comments were intended to refer to other former Social Democrat leaders, including CallumCathcart and EdwardLytton, both of whom she noted had been “electorally successful in their own rights”.
She added that she continued to wish ReuHR and the party “the greatest success”.