Fiji’s Home affairs Minister has held an urgent meeting with the nation’s military chief after he expressed concern about the new People’s Alliance-led government.

The government, a three-party coalition led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, has been in power for less than a month.

Major-General Jone Kalouniwai yesterday warned that the government was taking “shortcuts that circumvent the relevant processes and procedures” which could lead to “long-term national security consequences”.

• READ MORE: Fiji military chief’s sharp criticism of ‘ambition, speed’ of changes sparks anxiety
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Kalouniwai’s statement also highlighted the military’s “guardian role” in the constitution, which he claimed was to ensure “excesses [of power] of the past are not repeated”.

The Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, who has responsibility for defence, said he and Kalouniwai had a frank exchange of views, but both were committed to respecting the result of last month’s election.

In a statement, Tikoduadua said he assured the commander that all the government’s actions had been guided by the law.

“The commander and I have spoken, and we have expressed our views frankly to each other. We both believe in the rule of law, democracy, and the rights of every citizen to go about their affairs in peace,” he said.

‘Respecting will of people’
“We are both committed to respecting the will of the people through the outcome of the 2022 general election and protecting that decision, let come what may.

“No one should forget that the commander and the military have also helped us navigate our way, democratically, to a new government a month ago when many people were uncertain that Fiji could achieve a successful transition of government.

“All of us are learning. We are slowly undoing all the misconceptions about democratic governance that have been allowed to take root over the last 16 years. Our institutions are absorbing the impact of a new govemment with different ideas and new priorities.

“But through all of this, we will be talking to each other, in the spirit of consultation to provide the best for the Fijian people.”

The FBC News reports Prime Minister Rabuka said he was not concerned about the public utterances made by Jone Kalouniwai.

He said he had no concerns over the relationship he shared with the military, and he was confident in the RFMF leadership and also the force members.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The opposition FijiFirst party still “seems to be confused” about the role of its general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says prominent Suva lawyer Richard Naidu.

“Mr Sayed-Khaiyum appears to have triggered his exit from Parliament by accepting a position on the Constitutional Offices Commission,” he said.

“That means he is a ‘public officer’ as defined in the Constitution.

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“An MP who accepts appointment as a ‘public officer’ loses his seat in Parliament. That has already happened.

“Mr Bainimarama is now suggesting that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum will continue as general secretary of FijiFirst.

“But Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is still a ‘public officer’.

“Under section 14(1)(b) of the Political Parties (Registration Conduct Funding and Disclosures Act 2013) a ‘public officer’ is not eligible to be a political party official.

“In fact, under section 14(1)(a), while he holds office in the Constitutional Offices Commission, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is not allowed even to be a member of the FijiFirst party.

“So FFP’s plans for Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, now that he is out of Parliament, still seem confused.

‘Other parties will be writing’
“No doubt other political parties will be writing to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, asking him to ensure that the FijiFirst party is complying with the law.”

Naidu was referring to a video statement on the FijiFirst party Facebook page on Tuesday night where FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama said Sayed-Khaiyum’s exit from Parliament would mean that “he will be able to fully concentrate on FijiFirst matters outside Parliament”.

“I will be leading the charge inside Parliament and he will be leading the charge outside Parliament,” Bainimarama said.

“So to ensure that we are constantly in touch with our supporters and all Fijians on a daily basis, I have tasked our general secretary to be our voice outside Parliament.

“He will be in our parliamentary office, he will give us advice and also issue statements on behalf of FijiFirst when Parliament is not sitting.”

Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem confirmed that any person taking up public office must ensure that they comply with section 14(1) of the of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.

In a media statement issued after questions from The Fiji Times, he said public office holders according to section 14(1) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013 (Act) were not eligible to be an applicant or a member of a registered political party, not eligible to hold office in a registered political party, are not to engage in political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of that person’s office in an election; or publicly indicate support for or opposition to any proposed political party or a registered political party or candidate in an election.

Felix Chaudhary is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

Former coup leader and ex-prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka was today elected Fiji’s new prime minister, winning 28 votes to Voreqe Bainimarama’s 27.

The secret ballot vote in Parliament ends Bainimarama’s reign as leader of the country after 16 years. Bainimarama has dominated Fiji politics since he staged the 2006 military coup.

Today’s result was met with jubilant celebrations in the capital Suva with similar scenes playing out across the country on social media.

• READ MORE:  ‘Merry Christmas Fiji – free at last’ as Sodelpa confirms joining coalition
• Sodelpa joins Fiji coalition with Rabuka’s Alliance in split vote
• Tight Fiji police security for new Sodelpa party board meeting
• ‘Writing on the wall’ for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva
• ‘PM at first sitting’ — Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji — Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

Rabuka, who staged Fiji’s first two military coups in 1987 and previously served from 1992 to 1999 as an elected prime minister, described himself as “humbled” as he left to be sworn in.

Breaking – Sitiveni Rabuka speaks to media first time after being elected Fiji’s new prime minister. He says he feels “humbled” as he makes his way to the President’s office to get sworn in. #FijiPol pic.twitter.com/C6XxeDpUxQ

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 24, 2022

Rabuka now heads a three-party coalition government consisting of his People’s Alliance, the National Federation Party led by Professor Biman Prasad and the kingmaking Sodelpa Party, led by Viliame Gavoka.

Gavoka had this to say to reporters following the vote:

‘Democracy has won’
“Democracy has won. We live in a wonderful country.”

The NFP’s Dr Prasad said his party was happy to work with everyone and even the opposition.

Bainimarama appears to have conceded defeat peacefully, and spoke to reporters.

“I want to thank the supporters of FijiFirst,” he said. “We still are the biggest political party in there, so I want to thank them for that.”

“This is democracy, and this is my legacy, the 2013 Constitution,” he said.

Breaking – Frank Bainimarama thanks the FijiFirst supporters and says “this is democracy and this is my legacy. The 2013 Constitution.” #FijiPol pic.twitter.com/irLMTdHIRV

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 24, 2022

Bainimarama was asked if he would be opposition leader, and laughed and said, “I hope so.”

Cabinet named soon
Rabuka is expected to announce the members of his cabinet in the coming days.

Where the three Sodelpa MPs end up will be the first indication of what was agreed to in the coalition negotiations.

Tuvalu’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Kofe was one of the first foreign politicians to congratulate Rabuka.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Congratulations to ’s new Prime Minister Hon. Sitiveni Rambuka. Congratulations also to the new Speaker of the House Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and Deputy Speaker Hon Lenora Qereqeretabua @lenoraqfj. Looking forward to working with the new Government.

— Simon Kofe (@Simon_Kofe) December 24, 2022

The Fiji Times reports earlier that the Speaker of Parliament had been appointed.

The nominees were former speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.

After casting of a secret ballot, the result stood at 27 votes for Ratu Epeli and 28 for Ratu Naiqama.

Ratu Naiqama was nominated by NFP’s Professor Prasad who said he was no stranger to Parliament and Fiji’s political landscape.

Ratu Naiqama was first elected into Parliament after the May 1999 general election.

He was escorted to the chair after taking his oath.

Republished with permission.

“Merry Christmas Fiji!”

This was the message to Fiji from kingmakers Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) management board member and MP Tanya Waqanika after their meeting in Suva ended this evening.

Asked whether her Christmas wishes meant good news for the people of Fiji, she responded: “Free at last.”

Waqanika was one of the 26 management board members who participated in the secret ballot — which voted in favour of a coalition with the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party, the second time in barely 72 hours that the board backed the coalition.

• READ MORE:  Sodelpa joins Fiji coalition with Rabuka’s Alliance in split vote
• Tight Fiji police security for new Sodelpa party board meeting
• ‘Writing on the wall’ for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva
• ‘PM at first sitting’ — Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji — Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

This vote confirms the end of 16 years of domination of Fiji politics by 2006 coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama — half as the military leader and the rest as an elected FijiFirst party prime minister.

It will usher in a new era with coalition rule and 1987 coup leader and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka heading the government.

A secret ballot held at the meeting at the Southern Cross Hotel resulted in 13 votes for the PAP-NFP coalition and 12 for the FijiFirst Party.

‘Anomalies’ forced new vote
In Tuesday’s vote, the numbers were 16-14 in favour of the People’s Alliance-led coalition. However the validity of that vote was challenged over claimed “anomalies”.

Party vice-president Anare Jale said the next step now was to work on a coalition agreement.

He said that agreement would detail all the information and work that would be taking place today and during the holidays.

“Hopefully, something will be concluded and signed on Wednesday next week,” Jale said at the press conference after the day-long Sodelpa meeting.

Timoci Vula is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

• Parliament will hold a vote for the new prime minister, expected to Sitiveni Rabuka, on Saturday.

#Proclamation summoning #Parliament of the Republic of #Fiji
Click https://t.co/64m3AOG68v#FijiNews #TeamParliament pic.twitter.com/Htkc7AsGrD

— Fijian Parliament (@fijiparliament) December 23, 2022

Not out of the woods yet
RNZ Pacific reports that Fijians will have to hold back their celebration until a final decision is made on the floor of Parliament, where MPs will cast their votes for the next prime minister and speaker of the house in a secret ballot.

Soldepa vice-president and head of negotiations Anare Jale told media urgency was the utmost priority for the party.

“What we are doing today is to issue directives to our three members of Parliament on how they are going to vote for the position of speaker and also prime minister,” Jale said.

“We know Parliament will convene shortly, so, more the reasons these directive needs to be in the hands of the members of Sodelpa’s MP in Parliament.”

He added that a coalition agreement was to follow in the next few days … “Hopefully, something can be concluded and signed by Wednesday.”

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) today decided to go into a coalition government in Fiji with the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party, reports Fijivillage News.

Sodelpa vice-president Anare Jale announced that 13 management board members voted for the People’s Alliance/NFP coalition led by Sitiveni Rabuka while 12 votes backed the FijiFirst party of incumbent prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Jale told news media Sodelpa was ready to be part of the government with the Alliance and NFP.

• READ MORE:  Tight Fiji police security for new Sodelpa party board meeting
• ‘Writing on the wall’ for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva
• ‘PM at first sitting’ — Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji — Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

According to Fijivillage, Sodelpa leader Viliame Gavoka said democracy had won and the party had observed the process to its fullest.

Gavoka said it was very close again and came “down to the wire”.

He said Sodelpa made the decision fully committed, ensuring that it had the best interest for the people of Fiji, reported Fijivillage.

Today’s vote reaffirmed an earlier decision to join the coalition made on Tuesday which was challenged after reported “anomalies”.

More later

The Social Democratic Liberal Party will partner with the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party to form the next government.#FBCNews #FijiNews #Fiji #election2022
More: https://t.co/ykNqVhQufT pic.twitter.com/SMLuAxyvSx

— FBC News Fiji (@FBC_News) December 23, 2022

A complaint lodged against FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for alleged incitement at the Totogo Police station yesterday has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho said this today in a statement.

Yesterday, People’s Alliance general secretary and registered officer Sakiasi Ditoka lodged a police complaint against Sayed-Khaiyum, alleging comments he made during a news conference this week incited racial hatred, violence and communal antagonism.

• READ MORE:  Tight Fiji police security for new Sodelpa party board meeting
• ‘Writing on the wall’ for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva
• ‘PM at first sitting’ — Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji — Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

Commissioner Qiliho said the complaint had been handed over to the CID and that investigators were conducting their analysis before the next course of action was decided.

Sodelpa meeting
Meanwhile, Talebula Kate reports that members of the media covering the Sodelpa management board meeting at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva have now been allowed near the hotel but remain outside the premises on the public walkway.

When the final election results were announced around 4pm on Sunday, many Fijians, at home and around the world, breathed a collective sigh of relief: the government of coup-maker Voreqe Bainimarama looked like it had finally been defeated at the ballot box.

Could it be that the militarised political culture, pervasive in Fiji since the 1987 coups, was finally being effectively challenged — peacefully?

Bainimarama’s FijiFirst Party (FFP) collected 42.55 percent of votes, well short of the majority needed to return to power. The closest rival, the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), led by 1987 coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka, won 35.82 percent, followed by the National Federation Party (NFP) on 8.89 pecent and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) with 5.14 percent of the votes.

• READ MORE: As Fiji prepares to vote, democracy could already be the loser
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Total voter turnout was 68.28 percent, less than the 71.92 percent at the 2018 election. With the Unity Fiji and Fiji Labour parties not reaching the required 5 percent threshold to gain seats under Fiji’s proportional representation system, the maths indicated a dead heat –– and some anxious coalition horsetrading.

The vote shares mean FFP will have 26 seats in the new 55-seat Parliament, the PAP 21, NFP 5 and SODELPA 3. The PAP and NFP had already signed a pre-election agreement to form a coalition, meaning they are tied with the FFP on 26 seats.

Led by Viliame Gavoka, Sodelpa was suddenly thrust into the role of kingmaker. Given its fraught history with both FFP and PAP, the stage was set for some hard bargaining on all sides this week.

Family ties
The PAP, in fact, is a breakaway faction of Sodelpa. The divorce was bitter and littered with bruised souls. A faction within Sodelpa wanted nothing to do with Rabuka and the PAP.

On the other hand, Sodelpa’s relationship with FijiFirst has been equally strained. The founding leader of Sodelpa, the late prime minister Laiseni Qarase, was deposed, arrested and jailed following Bainimarama’s 2006 coup.

But there is a personal link between Sodelpa and the FFP, whose secretary general (as well as Attorney-General and Minister for the Economy in the previous government) is Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. An Indo-Fijian Muslim, Sayed-Khaiyum is the son-in-law of Sodelpa leader Viliame Gavoka, an indigenous Fijian (Taukei).

While this multiracial connection may have its political advantages, the reality is that many in Sodelpa vehemently oppose Sayed-Khaiyum for what they view as his imposing and arrogant style.

Return of Rabuka
There were early indications that Sodelpa might go with the PAP and NFP partnership to form a grand coalition, and that played out as by Friday the party’s management board had carried out two votes, both giving a very narrow margin in support of the grand coalition (16-14 then 13-12). Ideologically and politically, Sodelpa and PAP share the same basic vision and strategies regarding indigenous Fijian issues — after all, they were once the same party.

#LATEST Fiji’s kingmaker, Sodelpa has announced it’s joining Sitiveni Rabuka-led People’s Alliance-National Federation (PA-NFP) coalition to form the next government.https://t.co/57wLytvuHf

— RNZ Pacific (@RNZPacific) December 23, 2022

Gavoka and Rabuka are similar in various ways. They both have ethno-nationalist tendencies and embrace fundamentalist evangelical Christian doctrines. Gavoka has advocated setting up a Fijian embassy in Jerusalem, and Rabuka has been known as an admirer of Israel since he was commander of Fijian peacekeepers in the Middle East in the 1980s.

Furthermore, Sodelpa has been under pressure from its international and local branches (which fund the party) not to entertain any FFP coalition proposals. The message coming through from supporters is that their votes for Sodelpa were also votes against FFP.

There have also been fears that an alliance between Sodelpa and FFP could provoke old grievances and escalate into wider political instability.

Lastly, “non-negotiables” laid down by Sodelpa include enacting policies that promote indigenous Fijian interests (including the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs (which Bainimarama abolished), forgiving scholarship debt and setting up a Fiji embassy in Jerusalem.

These are similar to the PAP policies in the party manifesto but quite different from the FFP positions.

Culture change
If the election sees FijiFirst finally leave power, there is the potential for democratic progress. One of the major challenges for an incoming new government will be reform of the country’s civil service, judiciary, education and health systems, and the economy in general.

Over the years, Fiji society has been configured in ways that suit the narrow ideological interests and centralised control of the FFP. Security, public order and media laws have been used to undermine democratic debate, free expression and public engagement.

Democratising the institutions of state and making them more relevant will be a huge task. It will require significant financial, political and intellectual resources. It also has ramifications in the wider Pacific region, given Fiji’s role as an economic, communications and political hub.

Many Pacific leaders, including in Australia and New Zealand, have been unhappy with Fiji under the Bainimarama-Kaiyum axis. Actions such as the government’s refusal to release more than FJ$80 million in funding for the University of the South Pacific — creating a major crisis at the regional institution — only reinforce such perceptions.

Tense times, sense of Déjà vu in Fiji. As I wrote in ‘Anticipation & Apprehension in Fiji’s 2022 Election’ historically elections are riskiest period in Fiji. Anticipation of election turning into Apprehension about its outcome. The backgrounder is here:https://t.co/g3cxFhHyxo https://t.co/rivuVf1fGA

— Dr Shailendra B Singh (@ShailendraBSing) December 22, 2022

This time, Rabuka and Bainimarama — both former military leaders and coup makers — have used the democratic electoral system rather than guns and force to try to win to power. But behind them sits a culture of command and control that will be difficult to dislodge.

This is subtly woven into various aspects of the 2013 Constitution, such as the role of the military as the nation’s constitutional security watchdog. But there is growing confidence that the chances of another military coup following this election are virtually nil.

Fiji’s civil service and operations of state have incorporated micromanagement, authoritarianism and coercion as part of the institutional culture. The test will be to ensure that a coalition of parties can rule together in a way that expands political participation and enhances democracy.

Dr Steven Ratuva is director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Tight police security will greet the Sodelpa management board meeting in Suva tomorrow when it will again decide the political party it will form a coalition with to run the Fiji government for the next four years.

The decision came after hours of deliberation today by the Sodelpa working committee — headed by party acting deputy leader Aseri Radrodro — where members discussed the “anomalies” in the previous board meeting held at the Yue Lai Hotel in Suva on Tuesday.

That meeting of the 30-member board decided by a margin of 16-14 to form a coalition with the People’s Alliance party of former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the National Federation Party. This would give the coalition a slender majority of 29 in the 55-seat Parliament.

• READ MORE:  ‘Writing on the wall’ for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva
• ‘PM at first sitting’ – Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

However, some issues were identified by the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, after that Sodelpa board meeting.

Speaking to news media today, Radrodro said the agenda of the new meeting was to decide which party they would join.

The meeting will be held at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva at 10am tomorrow.

Sodelpa’s negotiating team will be headed by party vice-president Anare Jale.

Arieta Vakasukawaqa is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission.

Military forces deployed
Meanwhile, RNZ Pacific reports that Fiji’s military forces are being deployed to maintain security and stability in the country following reports of threats made against minority groups.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho announced the move, calling it a joint decision with the commander of Fiji’s military forces, Major-General Jone Kalouniwai.

As of 3pm Fiji time, RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Suva, Kelvin Anthony, reported there were no visible signs of increased police or military presence.

Commissioner Qiliho said the decision was based on official reports and intelligence received of planned civil unrest and the targeting of minority groups.

The military deployment comes less than 24 hours after the ruling FijiFirst party made its first public statement since the December 14 election.

Party secretary-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said they respected the outcome of the election, but did not recognise the validity of the opposition coalition and would not concede defeat.

Sayed-Khaiyum said under the country’s constitution, the FijiFirst government remained in place and Voreqe Bainimarama was still the prime minister of Fiji.

He said this could only be changed once the vote for prime minister was held on the floor of Parliament.

Under section 131 (2) of Fiji’s constitution, the military has the “overall responsibility” to ensure the security, defence and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The incumbent FijiFirst government’s appeal was beginning to wane and voters deserted the party “because of what they saw as their authoritarian, non-inclusive, controlling and vindictive style of leadership”, says a leading Fijian academic with an international reputation.

Professor Steven Ratuva, director of the New Zealand-based University of Canterbury’s Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, said: “The writing was on the wall for the Voreqe Bainimarama-led party for some time”.

“People could hardly openly complain and criticise the government as one would expect in a democracy, fearing the consequences,” he said.

• READ MORE:  ‘PM at first sitting’ – Fiji’s former elections chief explains how
• Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

A coalition of the People’s Alliance Party and National Federation Party with 26 seats combined with Sodelpa’s crucial three seats claims that it has a majority in the expanded 55-seat Parliament for Sitiveni Rabuka to lead as Prime Minister.

Referring to the internal issues erupting within the kingmaker Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), Professor Ratuva said it was time to respect the wishes of voters rather than the “hunger for power” and grievances of individual political players.

He said the Sodelpa split which led to the formation of the People’s Alliance was unfortunate “with lots of bruised souls and egos who harboured very deep resentment and clamour for vengeance”.

The issue was a complex mixture of “traditional vanua politics, personality power struggle and liumuri (backstabbing)” that was now unashamedly being played out in public.

Former Supervisor of Elections Jon Apted says that the coalition formed by the  Social Democratic Liberal Party with the People’s Alliance/National Federation Party should be able to successfully elect a Prime Minister at the first sitting.

He said that with the 2022 General Election over and FFP tied with the PA/NFP coalition at 26 seats each and Sodelpa holding three critical seats, there were a number of steps to be taken in the process of forming the next government.

“Once the Electoral Commission formally conducts the allocation of seats, they will publicly declare the names of the candidates who have been elected,” he said.

• READ MORE:  Fijian Aucklanders see promise and hope with Rabuka as likely PM
• ‘Nothing to concede’, says FijiFirst in wake of contested election
• Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

“They then forward those names to the Secretary-General to Parliament.

“They also endorse those names on the writ of election that was earlier issued to the Commission by the President and return the writ to the President.” Apted said under section 67 of the Constitution, the President must then call Parliament to meet within 14 days.

“This can be any date within the next two weeks.

“Under the Constitution, he needs to act on the advice of the current Prime Minister. The President has no power to act in his own judgment.”

Swearing in new members
Apted said under the Constitution where no party had won an outright majority of seats, the sitting PM and Cabinet remained in office until the first meeting of Parliament.

“At that first meeting, the SG must first swear in the new members who then elect the Speaker.

“The Speaker comes from outside Parliament. A candidate or candidates would be nominated by the members of the parties in Parliament. The Speaker must be elected by a simple majority of votes. Assuming that everyone turns up and is sworn in, that means that the new Speaker must have the support of at least 28 new MPs.”

Apted said once the Speaker was sworn in, he or she would preside over the selection in Parliament for who is to be the PM under section 93 of the Constitution.

“The Speaker first calls for nominations. If only one person is nominated and seconded, that person automatically becomes the PM. However, if there is more than one nominee, a vote must be taken.

“If a nominee gets more than 50 per cent of all the members of Parliament, then they will be PM. If no one gets more than 50 per cent, then a second vote must be held within 24 hours.

“The assumption is that lobbying will go on during this period.

“If after the second vote, someone has more than 50 per cent, he or she will be PM. If not, there has to be a third vote within 24 hours.”

Apted said if no one gets more than 50 per cent in the third vote, then the Speaker has to notify the President that Parliament is unable to elect a PM, and the President must within 24 hours dissolve Parliament and issue a new writ of election for a fresh election.

However, in reality with Sodelpa agreeing to form a coalition with the PAP/NFP coalition, that coalition should be able to successfully elect a PM at the first sitting, Apted said.

Felix Chaudhary is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission.

Many members of Auckland’s Fiji community say they are “delighted and relieved” by last week’s general election result.

Coup leader turned prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama seems set to lose his position after 16 years in office — eight years as dictator and the other half as elected prime minister.

An opposition coalition formed by the People’s Alliance, National Federation, and Sodelpa parties will replace FijiFirst as the country’s new government, led by another former coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka — now returning to the role as a democratically chosen leader.

• READ MORE:  Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

Yesterday was a day of celebration for some members of the local community — some of whom migrated to New Zealand because of Bainimarama’s leadership.

“The [previous government] was hopeless, I’ll tell you what,” said the owner of an Auckland shop.

“All sorts of media freedom, union movements, all these things were taken away. I hope the new government can bring back that freedom.”

‘We need democracy’
The new government gave him hope for Fiji’s future, the shop owner said.

“We need democracy to take its course, and I think this is the time,” he said.

“[The coalition] will make a good Cabinet and they will have a better way of running the government, a government that listens to the people.”

But others were more sceptical. An owner of a Fiji restaurant said the coalition had a lot to prove.

“Let’s see what happens, there are big promises being made,” he said. “A three-member coalition, that’s worrying for us, who’s going to be making those big decisions?”

‘True democracy’ opportunity
University of Canterbury sociologist Professor Steven Ratuva said the new leadership had an opportunity to bring back true democracy.

“Although we’ve had democratic elections, the style of leadership hasn’t been very democratic.

“It’s a great opportunity to see whether it’s possible to reconfigure the governance process towards a more democratic system.”

The excitement within the community was palpable, Ratuva said.

“It’s very significant,” he said. “Bainimarama’s government has been around since the coup in 2006. It’s a [statement] against his style of governance, which has been seen to be authoritarian and vindictive.”

The new coalition, however, was in a precarious spot just hours earlier.

Only 16 of Sodelpa’s 30-member management board voted for the alliance, splitting the party down the middle.

Internal disagreements resurfaced within Sodelpa, less than 24 hours after it announced it was forming a coalition government.

“It was very, very close,” Dr Ratuva said. “Which means that the faction in Sodelpa that supported FijiFirst, they’re probably not finished yet, they’re probably thinking up something.”

Dr Ratuva said the election was not a done deal, and more would be seen in the coming days.

When the election was finalised, he said, the real work would begin.

“The new coalition will have to do a lot of reform, in terms of reimagining and reframing the new governance process in Fiji for the future,” he said.

“It’s a coalition of three parties, they will have to draw together all those intellectual, political, professional resources to rebuild from there.

“We’ll see what happens in a year, but there’s a lot of promise.”

Ardern in ‘wait-and-see’ approach
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was taking a wait-and-see approach over the Fiji election, but the foreign minister had already congratulated the new government.

Ardern said she would wait until “the dust settled” before contacting Rabuka.

When asked whether the result could cause civil unrest, Ardern said she was not concerned and that New Zealand’s role was simply to observe and support Fiji.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta sent a tweet congratulating Rabuka on forming a coalition.

New Zealand looked forward to “working together to continue strengthening our warm relationship”, Mahuta said.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The ruling FijiFirst party is refusing to concede the 2022 general election, saying it can only be called after the election of the prime minister on the floor of Parliament.

Its general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that under the Fiji constitution the government was still in place and Voreqe Bainimarama remained the prime minister.

Sayed-Khaiyum — who is also caretaker Attorney-General — told local media the prime minister’s role and the power of the government would not change until the election of a new prime minister was held on the floor of Parliament.

• READ MORE:  Reports of ‘anomalies’ in Sodelpa vote to go with opposition parties
• New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

Sayed-Khaiyum also questioned the validity of the newly announced opposition coalition between the People’s Alliance, National Federation Party and Sodelpa.

He said concerns raised by the resigned Sodelpa general secretary, Lenaitasi Duru claiming “anomalies” in the voting process, had to be considered.

Sayed-Khaiyum said he looked forward to resubmitting FijiFirst’s coalition proposal to the management board of the party should it see fit to sit again.

But he said the final say on who would become the next prime minister of Fiji would only be determined on the floor of Parliament.

Fiji’s president must call Parliament within 14 days of the writ of elections being returned, which took place in a ceremony on Monday at Government House.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Internal disagreements have resurfaced within Sodelpa, Fiji’s kingmaking party, less than 24 hours after it announced it was forming a coalition government with the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party.https://t.co/YzVPPsRwEb

— RNZ Pacific (@RNZPacific) December 21, 2022

Claims of irregularities in the vote to create a new coalition government formed in Fiji have emerged.

Internal disagreements have resurfaced within Sodelpa, Fiji’s kingmaking party, less than 24 hours after it announced it was forming a coalition government with the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party.

The latest turn of events has resulted in the party’s general secretary Lenaitasi Duru tendering his resignation on Tuesday night to the party’s management board following his concerns about “anomalies” in the voting process to elect a coalition partner.

• READ MORE: New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

Sodelpa’s 30-member board was split with 16 in favour of the new coalition and 14 in favour of teaming up with Fiji First.

Prior to stepping down Duru had written to Fiji’s president, Wiliame Katonivere, seeking deferment of the first Parliament sitting.

“This request is based on the Sodelpa constitutional anomalies of members that participated in the vote to determine our coalition partner to form government from December 2022,” Duru said in the letter.

He added: “Given the importance of this process in choosing our next government, we therefore wish to advise that the initial result taken by the board is null and void.”

According to local media reports Duru is still the general secretary of the party as his resignation will come into effect after 30 days.

RNZ Pacific has contacted Sodelpa for comment.

No Parliament sitting today
Meanwhile, the Parliament office has confirmed that there will be no sitting today, as they have not received any proclamation from the president.

The president must call Parliament within 14 days after the writ of elections is returned.

Speaking to RNZ Pacific last night, Sodelpa’s main negotiator, Anare Jale, said the coalition agreement signed by the three parties is a legally binding document.

Jale said the basis of the agreement is for the three Sodelpa MPs to vote along party lines in favour of People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka to be Fiji’s next prime minister.

This means if any of the three candidates fail to do so, then according to the 2013 Fijian Constitution, they will lose their parliamentary seat.

“The coalition is solid. The party is solid. We have decided on a decision, and the provision of the Constitution is very clear. When the party decides on a decision to be taken by them in Parliament, they have to respect that.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister has endorsed the new government.

In a tweet, Nanai Mahuta offered her congratulations to PA-NFP-Sodelpa and Sitiveni Rabuka on forming a coalition to lead the people.

She also said she looks forward to working with the new government to continue strengthening the warm relationship.

Congratulations to PA-NFP-SODELPA/ Sitiveni Rabuka on forming a coalition to lead the people. looks forward to working together to continue strengthening our warm relationship #duavata #mahitahi #kotahitanga

— Nanaia Mahuta (@NanaiaMahuta) December 20, 2022

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

After 72 hours of negotiations ended yesterday, the Social Democratic Liberal Party finally chose the People’s Alliance party and National Federation Party as its coalition partners ending the 16 years of domination by 2006 coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama.

Speaking to the media outside Yue Lai Hotel in Suva last night, Sodelpa head of negotiations team and vice-president Anare Jale said it was not an easy decision to make.

The negotiations team from the ruling FijiFirst Party was led by its party leader and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. He was accompanied by FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

• READ MORE: New chapter for Fiji – Rabuka to lead coalition
• Other Fiji elections reports

“The management board has been meeting for two hours today [Tuesday],” Jale said.

He said they made the decision following presentations from the FijiFirst Party, the People’s Alliance Party and National Federation Party.

“A secret ballot was conducted. There were about 30 members of the management board who voted.

14-16 split vote
“The decision was 14 voted for FijiFirst Party and 16 vote for the People’s Alliance Party.

“Sodelpa will form a coalition with the People’s Alliance Party and National Federation Party to form a new government.

“We have finally came to a decision and it has not been a very easy decision, it took us few days to decide on the way forward for the party, especially the choice of who we are going to form a coalition with to form the next government.

“It was a huge responsibility for Sodelpa and we are so grateful that the end has now come.”

He said the decision was a tough one.

“The decision was taken into account with presentations made to the negotiating team of Sodelpa which we have been receiving over the last three days.

“We analysed the presentations given, we went back to the management board to report to them.

Rabuka for PM
The negotiation team of the People’s Alliance Party was led by party leader Sitiveni Rabuka, who will become the new prime minister. Also a former coup leader, Rabuka was Fiji’s prime minister from 1992 to 1999.

Questions sent to FijiFirst party leader Voreqe Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum remained unanswered when this edition went to press. RNZ Pacific also faced unanswered questions. The FijiFirst Facebook page has not been undated for four days.

The former Sodelpa leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa, said the negotiations were not easy.

Speaking at the news conference last night, she said the lengthy meeting was an indicator of how serious and crucial the meeting was.

“It has not been an easy 72 hours,” Ro Teimumu said.

“We’ve had three management board meetings but that is an indicator of how serious and how crucial and how important it was for us to make the right decision.

“We are factoring in the stability of our country, the way the people have asked us to look at the areas that we needed to look at in terms of where we were to vote today.

“We hope that the way ahead is going to be one that will bring good news to people in terms of the stability of our country, all the things that we’ve been mindful of and complaining about for the last 16 years.”

Ro Teimumu also took time to thank her party supporters.

“I would like to thank our Sodelpa supporters who came through and gave us three seats, which became very crucial in terms of determining the way ahead.

“We wish our parliamentarians especially the new coalition — that is the People’s Alliance Party, and the NFP and Sodelpa — we wish them all the best and we just ask you to keep them in your prayers.”

Rakesh Kumar is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

#FIJITIMESHEADLINES

Bula

The big one on the front page of The Fiji Times for Wednesday, December 21 is on politics.

When it mattered, the powers that be came together and voted for change!#TimesNews #TimesBiz #TimesSports #FijiNews https://t.co/5f0PZX6c3D

— The Fiji Times (@fijitimes) December 20, 2022

Jubilant scenes in Suva tonight greeted Fiji’s kingmaker party Sodelpa as it announced it will form a coalition with the People’s Alliance-National Federation Party to form a new government, bringing an end to FijiFirst’s eight-year rein.

It also closes a chapter on 16 years of political dominance of the 2006 coup leader turned Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

The decision was made in a secret ballot by Sodelpa’s 30 member management board with 16 voting in favour of the PAP-NFP alliance and 14 voting in favour of FijiFirst.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji election reports

The first sitting of Parliament is tomorrow when the new prime minister — expected to be former coup leader and ex-prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka — will be elected.

People’s Alliance HQ. Jubilant scenes in Suva. #FijiVotes2022 pic.twitter.com/szWwWo1CJz

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 20, 2022

Bainimarama has yet to concede the elections — RNZ Pacific has contacted his FijiFirst party for comments.

Sodelpa’s chief negotiator, Anare Jale said their decision to side with PAP-NFP had not been taken lightly and they had given full consideration to the offers from all parties.

“It has taken days to decide on the way forward for the party,” Jale said.

“Especially the choice of the partner for whom we are going to form a coalition with to form government.”

Sodelpa’s kingmaker position came about after a contentious national election count which saw PAP leader Sitiveni Rabuka calling into question the integrity of the electoral system.

But now in the driving seat, Rabuka said it was a past issue.

“We thank the Electoral Commission, although we [had] some difficulties with them in the beginning….But now let it roll over. I’m sure we can all turn our back on that and work together,” Rabuka said.

Since the election results were released on Sunday Sodelpa’s management board has been going back and forth between the negotiating teams for the two prospective coalition partnerships.

This came to a head this afternoon with back-to-back presentations from the two camps before the secret ballot was taken.

Rabuka to be prime minister
The new coalition has selected the PAP leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, to be its prime minister.

He will be elected during the first sitting of the new Parliament tomorrow.

This was confirmed by the National Federation Party leader, Professor Biman Prasad, shortly after Sodelpa’s management board announced its chosen coalition partner this afternoon in Suva.

“Official communication will be sent to his Excellency the President, confirming that the PAP-NFP-Sodelpa government is ready to lead under the new prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka,” Professor Prasad said.

The coalition leaders said they were pleased to be able to give the people of Fiji this early Christmas present — a strong and united coalition government.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Tears of Joy pic.twitter.com/8ptEZkIiXX

— Fijian Pisces (@FijianPisces) December 20, 2022

An official communication will be sent to Fiji’s President confirming the new People’s Alliance, National Federation Party and Sodelpa government is ready to lead under the new Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.

NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad said the leaders were pleased to give Fijians a Christmas present of a strong and united coalition government ready to respond to their call for change.

“People have chosen a new way, a new path, and a new government and we the coalition partners — now the People’s Alliance, the NFP and Sodelpa — promise the people of Fiji that a new era will be starting as the new government takes on the power in this country.”

• READ MORE: Other Fiji election reports

People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka thanked Fijians, saying they had voted for change and the coalition had given them that.

He also thanked outgoing FijiFirst Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his cabinet for running the affairs of the nation for the past 16 years.

“Losing the election is not the end. I lost in 1999 and I kept trying. I’ve been given the opportunity this time, once in 2018 and again this time and different party. Play your cards right. Lead your team well and work hard.”

Sixteen members of the Sodelpa management board voted in favour of PAP and NFP, while 14 voted for FijiFirst.

The Fijian people will need to still wait to find out who will lead the country for the next four years after the kingmaker Social Democratic Liberal Party’s board failed to agree to proposals put forward by the incumbent FijiFirst and the opposition People’s Alliance-National Federation Party after intense negotiations today.

Following almost four hours of politicking which started at 10.30am local time, party leader Viliame Gavoka emerged from the meeting to declare no deal had been made.

“Let me once again stress that we fully understand and appreciate the challenge that is with us at Sodelpa to decide how this country will be governed for the next four years,” an emotional Gavoka told the media in Suva.

• READ MORE: Sodelpa youth arm begs party to rule out coalition with ‘dictator’ Bainimarama
• The Fiji Times: Kingmakers and the big post-election reveal!
• Last shall be first … Fiji’s kingmaker party considering all options
• Fiji elections: Indigenous issues ‘paramount with us’, says Gavoka on coalition talks
• Fiji elections: End 16 years of nation’s ‘bullying, corrupt’ government, pleads Beddoes
• Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Other Fiji election reports

“We fully understand the significance of this. We are committed to ensuring that our decision who governs this country will be done for the best interest of our people.”

Negotiations between Sodelpa and FijiFirst, the People’s Alliance and NFP began on Sunday evening and Gavoka confirmed his team met with both parties and listened to what they had to offer.

He said the Sodelpa board had gone through “in great detail” offers from both parties and had decided to continue negotiations.

“The negotiating team goes back to the parties concerned, [it will] relook at some aspects of the offer and bring it back to the management board on Wednesday at 2pm,” he said.

“Do another round of talks. That is what we have decided.”

‘Not fair’ on Fijians
But Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali said it was not fair that the Fijian people who went out and voted were now having to wait this long for a government to be formed.

Ali is calling for the political leaders to “come to their senses”.

“I hope that political parties come to an understanding for a peaceful Fiji where human rights are respected and where we don’t have such restrictive laws,” she said.

She said she hoped that the “kingmakers” would put the people first when making the final decision “and behaving like the religious society that we are where forgiveness and kindness are paramount”.

Chance for ‘real democracy’, says academic
University of Canterbury Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies director Professor Steven Ratuva has labelled it a “knife-edge election”.

Dr Ratuva said Fiji had seen a shift in power, but it still held a chance to bring back “real democracy” in the country.

He added all players understood the power conjured up by Sodelpa, and big bargains from both sides would be dangled before them.

The options on the table for Sodelpa are woven with political complexities. On one hand is Voreqe Bainimarama’s FijiFirst, which deposed the founding leader of Sodelpa – late Prime Minister Laiseni Qarase, who was arrested and jailed following the 2006 coup.

However, Dr Ratuva said an unexpected coalition between FijiFirst and Sodelpa would not be “impossible”.

“The history of Fiji is littered with such cases where opposing politicians got together, remember when [Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra] Chaudhry got together with Rabuka as prime minister in 1992,” he explained.

‘Nothing impossible’
“Nothing is impossible in Fiji and in politics generally”.

Dr Ratuva said desperation was in the air, and Sodelpa would be able to leverage on promises made on the campaign trail.

“FijiFirst will be desperate to give them what they want,” he said.

“Even the deputy prime minister’s position or even to speculate the prime minister’s position, but whether that will happen or not is another question because I doubt that Bainimarama would easily relinquish that position, which he has been holding for a long time.”

But whether the two parties are able to see eye-to-eye on policy remains in question.

Dr Ratuva said Sodelpa’s manifesto strongly counters the policies of the FijiFirst party, not only in this election but over the last two terms in parliament.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The youth wing of Fiji’s Social Democratic Liberal Party (Soldelpa) are against any move by its board to form a coalition with the ruling FijiFirst post-election.

Speaking to media in Suva yesterday, Sodelpa leader Viliame Gavoka said the party had 14 days to consider its options.

“We are not in any hurry, we understand the importance of this, but we’re not going to rush. We are going to do this properly but with urgency,” he said.

• READ MORE:  The Fiji Times: Kingmakers and the big post-election reveal!
• Last shall be first … Fiji’s kingmaker party considering all options
• Fiji elections: Indigenous issues ‘paramount with us’, says Gavoka on coalition talks
• Fiji elections: End 16 years of nation’s ‘bullying, corrupt’ government, pleads Beddoes
• Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Other Fiji election reports

RNZ Pacific has seen a copy of the letter in which the Sodelpa Youth Council expressed their “distaste” to the party’s main decision-making board for “agreeing to consider” Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s FijiFirst as a potential partner.

“We beg the executives to consider wisely and inclusively on the party’s move,” the letter states.

“The people are our source of strength and therefore their voice is what we shall recognise,” it adds.

It further states that although the party has differences with People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka “he may be the only option we can take to work with” to put an end to “16 years of dictatorial leadership” under Bainimarama.

The youth arm believes the Sodelpa management’s decision to consider proposals from FijiFirst shows the “desperation and compromised approach” the party is willing to take to form a government.

Sodelpa’s management board — which is made up of over 40 members from 28 constituencies — is expected to meet today to make a decision.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

It’s the big day today! We will get to know the make-up of our Parliament. The results saw FijiFirst leading the vote count — but failing to gain a majority (26 seats) — followed by the People’s Alliance (21), the National Federation Party (5) and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (3).

Pundits were predicting Sodelpa could become ‘kingmakers” in the event of a tight finish, and based on them getting past the threshold!

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has not announced the total voter turnout, but he said yesterday this figure would be known today.

• READ MORE: Last shall be first … Fiji’s kingmaker party considering all options
• Fiji elections: Indigenous issues ‘paramount with us’, says Gavoka on coalition talks
• Fiji elections: End 16 years of nation’s ‘bullying, corrupt’ government, pleads Beddoes
• Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Other Fiji election reports

The 353,247 figure he released on Election Day, he said, was from 1200 or so polling stations, not 1400. There can be no doubts about the interest now focused on the outcome.

It had been a fiery tussle leading up to the elections on December 14.

Campaigns inched out attacks that turned ugly at times, and some became personal. When it mattered, we were told of a low voter turnout. All that will now be cast aside as we await the final announcement.

Will there be an outright winner?

Or will there be a role for Sodelpa to play? Voters would be keenly following how the numbers add up.

The atmosphere has been supercharged, highly emotional, and driving through divisions as party followers cling onto hope.

There is great suspense and anxiety! It isn’t a pleasant scenario.

The Supervisor of Elections has been highly visible, answering questions raised by party supporters and the local and international media.

In the face of that sits the voter, each with emotional responses that are on a leash. There were questions raised by political parties following that glitch on the first night of counting.

Press conferences were called by the parties highlighting their views on the turn of events. Social media has also been rife with claims and counter claims.

In saying that, the race was tight! That sets the stage for the big announcement. For whatever it’s worth, the result will end speculation and may raise discussions on eventualities if things don’t end the way the leading party leaders want it to.

The guessing game is on! Rumours were rife in the Capital City, and emotions were quite intense in many quarters. But we wait with bated breath for the big reveal!

This editorial was published in The Sunday Times on 18 December 2022 and has been edited slightly in the light of developments. Republished with permission.

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) has emerged as the kingmaker in Fiji’s contentious 2022 general election and its leader Viliame Gavoka is in no rush to punch his golden ticket.

After a nightmare leadup to the election, with infighting resulting in a massive split in the party, many punters had all but written Sodelpa off ahead of last week’s polls.

The major opposition political party in the last Parliament, Sodelpa is now a shadow of its former self, just scraping through the electoral system’s 5 percent threshold by the skin of its teeth.

• READ MORE: Fiji elections: Indigenous issues ‘paramount with us’, says Gavoka on coalition talks
• Fiji elections: End 16 years of nation’s ‘bullying, corrupt’ government, pleads Beddoes
• Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Other Fiji election reports

Its three Parliamentary seats are the lowest number of any party in the new Parliament and its leadership will be all too aware that the kingmaker position it now finds itself in — courted by parties on all sides — is probably the most leverage it will have for the coming four-year-term.

Speaking to media in the capital Suva yesterday, Gavoka said the party had 14 days to consider its options.

“We are not in any hurry, we understand the importance of this but we’re not gonna rush. We are going to do this properly but with urgency,” he said.

Gavoka said they were speaking to all parties but he was keeping his distance from the process.

“I am not part of the negotiating team. We set the parameters for negotiations, and we have redefined what is non-negotiable and what is negotiable and that is handed over to the negotiating team to talk to both parties,” he said.

“All those policies were collectively framed by the management board.”

So, what are Sodelpa’s non-negotiables?
Given that Sodelpa’s campaign slogan was “Time for change”, Gavoka is going to have to come up with something better than “we will make the best decision for Fiji” to convince his hardcore followers to swallow the pill of a partnership with FijiFirst.

Gavoka has provided assurance to Sodelpa’s supporters that whatever coalition it agrees to, its iTaukei policies will prevail:

• Reestablishment of the Great Council of Chiefs;
• Education policy — free tertiary and forgiveness of the student loan (TELS); and
• Set up an embassy in Jerusalem. “Fiji being a very Christian country, we want our presence in the Holy Land.”

When Gavoka was pressed by media on his close family ties to FijiFirst’s general secretary – his son-in-law, Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum, his response appeared non-committal.

“You know, we’ve been political rivals in Parliament for eight years and that’s pretty clear. In the form of Parliament, there’s no family but outside Parliament you’re family.”

On the other hand, there is lingering distrust between Sodelpa and its former leader Sitiveni Rabuka, whose new People’s Alliance Party has emerged the runner-up in its election debut with 21 parliamentary seats, just behind FijiFirst’s 26.

Rabuka believes a partnership with Sodelpa is the best fit.

‘Natural for us’
“I think it’s natural for us to forge a coalition because when we look at our manifestos and policies, and vision statements, etc. they are in harmony and all of them individually and collectively are diametrically opposed to the FijiFirst policy reforms,” Rabuka said.

No agreement has yet been signed by either but talks are underway.

“We’ve taken it as far as they gave us the opportunity for yesterday, we provided our team to talk with the team, and the result of that has not come back to us,” said Rabuka.

Rabuka has confirmed that he has not spoken directly to the Sodelpa leader.

“I’m in the process of doing so.”

Gavoka, however has said he would rather not.

“You don’t want to insert yourself into the negotiations. Our people are negotiating with their people. The two leaders are best to stay apart. That’s the way I’d like to do it,” said Gavoka.

The other potential coalition partner should Sodelpa go with Rabuka over Bainimarama is the National Federation Party, led by Professor Biman Prasad.

‘A reasonable man’
Sodelpa and NFP have spent the past two parliamentary terms in the opposition.

“I’ve had a talk with the Sodelpa team, and also met the leader Bill.

“Bill and I have worked together before and he has always been a reasonable man,” Professor Prasad said.

“I think he understands the enormity of why people have voted us from the opposition and voted for a new government. And I’m sure he understands it, we understand it, and Mr Rabuka understands it and I think it looks very positive.”

The Sodelpa management board will be meeting today to consider both coalition proposals.

Meanwhile, despite RNZ Pacific attempts to get comments from FijiFirst it has not received a response.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Former opposition Sodelpa member Mick Beddoes has appealed to the party’s management board to end the 16-year rule of Voreqe Bainimarama’s FijiFirst government.

In an open letter on his official Facebook page to Sodelpa vice-president Ro Teimumu Kepa, president Ratu Manoa Roragaca, leader Viliame Gavoka and the management board today, Beddoes said: “After many years of inner turmoil, you have the entire country holding their breath to hear your decision, which will either deliver to our people a Christmas gift unlike any we have had for the past 16 years or you will knowingly condemn us all to another four more years of undeserved vindictive, bullying, corrupt, self serving, self enriching and uncaring governance.”

He added that the decision to stay with the people was a “no brainer” to avoid a “hung” parliament.

• READ MORE: Fiji elections: Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party fails to gain parliament majority
• Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Fiji elections: Alliance leads early vote tally – Bainimarama heads candidates
• Fiji elections: ‘We have evidence’ People’s Alliance ahead, says Rabuka
• Fiji elections: Rabuka raises concern over results app glitch
• Provisional results in Fiji election show ruling FijiFirst party in the lead
• Other Fiji election reports

The official results indicated that FijiFirst had lost its majority with just 26 members of the expanded 55-seat Parliament — the same combined number as the opposition coalition of the People’s Alliance led by former 1987 coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka (21 members) and the National Federation Party (5 seats).

Soldelpa – the only other party of nine contesting the general elections to get across the 5 percent threshold — hold the balance of power with three seats.

“While the decision to stay with the greater interest of all our people, is a ‘no brainer’ I do appreciate the need for the party to take into account the interests and aspirations of its membership,” Beddoes said.

“However, in doing so it has to be weighed against the greater interest of our nation given we have all witnessed in broad daylight and experienced over the past 16 years the greed and self enrichment by the narrow interests of the favored few and as the voting thus far has very clearly indicated por people want change and we as opposition political leaders are ‘obliged to deliver this’ as this is what we promised.”

‘Theft’ of the Fijian name
“Need I remind you that this is the very same government who raided your home at night and took you in for interrogation because you offered to host the Methodist Church Conference, this is the same government who from 2007 to 2013 imposed more than 17 derogatory decrees against your own people, which among other things included the ‘theft’ of the name Fijian from your people by a stroke of a pen, and they banned the right of educated iTaukei students from attending and supporting their respective provincial councils.

“They have excluded your own people from chair positions and board appointments by a margin of 80 percent from all government entities under the guise of ‘merit based’ appointments.

“When they had the opportunity to remove all these oppressive and discriminatory decrees at the time they drafted and imposed their 2013 constitution prior to the 2014 elections, they did not and it remains the law against your people today and they built in provision into the constitution that makes amendments to the constitution near impossible.

“This government’s policies and deliberate discrimination against your own people has resulted your people accounting for 75 percent of our 208,256 absolute poorest citizens, which means more than 156,192 of your own people live in absolute poverty despite owning 89 percent of all the land and you want to even ‘consider’ talking to them?”

Beddoes said Ro Teimumu led Soldelpa in the first opposition challenge that resulted in their first national platform from which to speak out and he was part of the team then.

“In that first effort in 2014, Sodelpa and its opposition colleagues received 202,650 votes to FijiFirst’s 293,714, we were 91,064 short. In our second effort in 2018, we increased our support level to 227,094 vs FijiFirst’s 227,241 and reduced their advantage to just 147 votes.

“Today while we are all still trying to figure out where all the extra votes came from the latest vote tally show we are at this time 58,635 votes ahead and you, Marama, are once again in a position with Bill and your management board to complete the mission we all started back in 2007 and remove the cruel, vindictive, bullying, arrogant, disrespectful and uncaring government that FijiFirst is.

“I beg you Marama, Ratu Manoa and you Bill and your management board, please do not waiver from our initial promise of change and finish the mission we started 15 years ago and end our 16 years of suffering and please give our people the Christmas gift they all deserve.”

Sodelpa in negotiations with both sides
SBS News reports that Sodelpa is in negotiations with both the FijiFirst government and People’s Alliance over which it will support with its balance of power.

Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party is the largest single party with 42.5 per cent of the vote while People’s Alliance and the NFP — which have already said they would join forces — sit at 36 and nine percent respectively.

Sodelpa holds just over five percent of the vote.

Sodelpa general secretary Lenaitasi Duru said today it would enter a second round of negotiations with both parties.

Talebula Kate is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

Rabuka says “no deal signed yet. Negotiations are ongoing” with Sodelpa. #FijiVotes2022 https://t.co/yTsVanBO2K pic.twitter.com/lLAb744TbU

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 18, 2022

The final results of the 2022 Fiji general election are in and there appears to be a “hung” Parliament

The make-up of the new 55 seat Parliament — according to the Fiji Elections Office results app — will be FijiFirst with 26 seats, the People’s Alliance Party with 21 seats, the National Federation Party with 5 seats and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) with 3 seats.

In order to be able to form government 28 seats are needed.

• READ MORE: Fiji elections: Rabuka calls for calm after police interrogation
• Fiji elections: Alliance leads early vote tally – Bainimarama heads candidates
• Fiji elections: ‘We have evidence’ People’s Alliance ahead, says Rabuka
• Fiji elections: Rabuka raises concern over results app glitch
• Provisional results in Fiji election show ruling FijiFirst party in the lead
• Other Fiji election reports

This means that for the first time since the return of democracy to Fiji in 2014, the 2006 coup leader and incumbent Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s dominant FijiFirst Party has failed to secure the majority of seats to rule.

Bainimarama will now need to woo at least one of the three opposition party leaders to join him if he is to remain in power.

The People’s Alliance Party — led by 1987 coup leader and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka — and the National Federation Party, led by Professor Biman Prasad, formed a pre-election coalition and are unlikely targets for the FijiFirst leader.

But Sodelpa, led by Viliame Gavoka, made no such pre-election promises.

Gavoka also has close family ties to Bainimarama’s right-hand man and the Attorney-general Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum.

There is also bad blood between Sodelpa and Rabuka, who broke away from the party to form his current People’s Alliance Party, after having led Sodelpa through the last election in 2018.

Supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem said the official elections results would be handed over to the Electoral Commission later this afternoon.

‘Not hypocritical’, says Duru
The Fiji Times reports that Sodelpa’s general secretary Lenaitasi Duru denied that the party was being hypocritical negotiating with FijiFirst.

“It’s not hypocritical if you’re going to bring change by joining FFP leader Voreqe Bainimarama,” Duru told the media outside the party headquarters in Suva.

“Right now we’re sitting in the middle, we’re watching and waiting for what is on offer.

“Then, we’ll make the decision based on what’s best for the nation.”

When questioned on the possibility of the party dropping below the five percent threshold he told The Times they are holding on and hoping for the best.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Fiji police detained the leader of the People’s Alliance Party, Sitiveni Rabuka, last night and questioned him about his activities during this week as the Fijian Elections Office continues with the official vote count of the contested 2022 poll results.

Rabuka was summoned along with his party general secretary, Sakiasi Ditoka. around 8pm local time and interrogated at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Toorak for about two hours before they were both released without being charged.

His arrest comes following comments he made this week calling for a military intervention in the country’s election.

Police also took in the head of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai, for questioning at the Valelevu police station in Nasinu.

Church leader detained
Asked if he had anticipated being summoned by the police, he replied “I don’t want to answer that question” as his vehicle drove away.

Police also took in the head of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, Reverend Ili Vunisuwai, for questioning at the Valelevu police station in Nasinu.

Vunisiwai had sent a letter on behalf of the Methodist Church to the Fiji President on Thursday expressing concern about the counting of the votes and inconsistencies in the electronic results management app and included the military commander and police chief in the communication.

Rabuka released after being questioned by the CID and still smiling.

Q: Do you fear anything?

Rabuka: NO. #FijiVotes2022 pic.twitter.com/LuuBEzfeR5

— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) December 16, 2022

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has also confirmed to local media they were investigating two candidates from We Unite Fiji party for “allegedly calling for a mass gathering to protest election process” outside the main counting centre in Suva.

RNZ Pacific has contacted Fiji police for comment.

Tight race as official vote count continues
As of 3am Saturday local time in Fiji, Rabuka’s People’s Alliance Party were running a close second to the incumbent Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s FijiFirst.

With votes from 717 of 2071 polling stations officially validated, FijiFirst were sitting on 40.2 percent of votes counted so far and the People’s Alliance Party were at 36.9 percent.

In third place was the National Federation Party on 8.1 percent followed by the Social Democratic Liberal Party (5.9 percent) only slightly above the 5 percent threshold required to make it into Parliament.

The Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem, has said their aim is to complete the official count by Sunday afternoon.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The People’s Alliance Party took an early lead in the Fiji general election vote tally this evening with a total of 21,810 votes recorded after the completion of counting from 470 of the 2071 polling stations.

The governing FijiFirst Party was in second place with 16,515 votes and SODELPA running third with 3684 votes.

The National Federation Party followed with 3256 votes and Unity Fiji in fifth place with 1688 votes.

• READ MORE: Fiji elections: ‘We have evidence’ People’s Alliance ahead, says Rabuka
• Fiji elections: Rabuka raises concern over results app glitch
• Provisional results in Fiji election show ruling FijiFirst party in the lead
• Other Fiji election reports

The other results by party as at the 5pm update provided by the Fijian Elections Office are:

Fiji Labour Party – 1269
We Unite Fiji Party – 1179
All Peoples Party – 614
New Generation Party – 175
Rajendra Sharma (Independent) – 26
Ravinesh Reddy (Independent) – 21

The top five candidates at that update were:

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama – 11,248
Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka – 6738
Lynda Diseru Tabuya – 1397
Siromi Dokonivalu Turaga – 1048
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum – 927

Counting continues at the National Count Centre and the next update is due to be provided by the Supervisor of Elections at 10pm.

Timoci Vula is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

Fiji’s military will respect electoral process – Kalouniwai
RNZ Pacific reports that the Fiji military commander has rejected a request by opposition party leaders to intervene in a dispute over the country’s election process.

Major-General Jone Kalouniwai said the military (RFMF) as an institution would put its trust in the electoral process.

“I wish to reassure the people of Fiji that the RFMF will not respond to [PAP leader Sitiveni ] Rabuka’s insistence or any political party, that we intervene under our responsibilities from Section 131.2 of the 2013 Constitution,” Kalouniwai said.

“The constitutional responsibility of the RFMF section 131.2 does not make any reference to intervening or getting involved with the electoral processes or management of voting or counting of votes with the assistance of the military.”

Kalouniwai explained that using the military in any form during the electoral process was unconstitutional.

The statement came after a group of opposition party leaders called for a halt to vote counting yesterday, demanding an audit of the country’s electoral system.

It was triggered by an anomaly in provisional results that was displayed on a Fiji Election Office results app on Wednesday night.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka says he has evidence his party is ahead in the 2022 polls, contrary to the official results posted by the Fijian Elections Office.

At a media conference yesterday, he called on the people of Fiji to remain calm and said he would write to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai and the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem to express his dissatisfaction.

“We have discovered that we still have the majority — working on the results that were published in the pink copies of provisional results as per the polling booths,” Rabuka said.

• READ MORE: Fiji elections: Rabuka raises concern over results app glitch
• Provisional results in Fiji election show ruling FijiFirst party in the lead
• Other Fiji election reports

“Those were collected, they were photographed, they were relayed to us and we have a count of those.

“And from all counts that we have, we have enough evidence to support our claim in a court.”

Rabuka said the shift in results after a glitch in the FEO results app had not been satisfactorily explained by Saneem.

“After the glitch last night [Wednesday], before we were actually ahead in the count; when the system came back on there was a big change and not in our favour.

Right to redress
“It is only natural for us, for the people to expect the so-called ‘offended parties’ to have the right to redress.

“The redress I mean — that we will convey our feelings to the Supervisor of Elections to say that we are not satisfied with the outcome after the break.

“The constitutional officer that has the overall responsibility according to the Constitution is the commander RFMF and we will also be communicating with him.”

Rabuka said other constitutional offices they had written to also included the President’s office.

Meri Radinibaravi is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

The People’s Alliance Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, will be writing to key Fiji general election figures expressing their dissatisfaction with the provisional results that followed the surprising technical glitch last night on the Fijian Elections Office app.

At 10.51pm on election day, the FEO released a statement on social media platform Facebook advising the public that provisional results were “temporarily on hold”. The post generated significant interest online.

Around 2.50am today, the FEO App was back online. However, the outcome that followed its resumption resulted in significant changes to the provisional results for contesting parties and candidates.

• READ MORE: Provisional results in Fiji election show ruling FijiFirst party in the lead
• Other Fiji election reports

“It is something that is not within our control but we can engage activities that will allow us redress of what the situation is,” the statement said.

“We will convey our feelings to the Supervisor of Elections (SOE) to say that we are not satisfied with the outcome after the break, the glitch, last night.

“Before that [glitch], we were ahead in the count. When the system came back on, there was a big change not in our favour. It is only natural for people to expect the so-called offended parties to have the right to redress.”

Supervisor Of Elections Mohammed Saneem revealed that the FEO found anomalies in its system when uploading data to the FEO results mobile app.

Mismatch of numbers
While the issue has now been fixed, Saneem said the technical glitch resulted in a mismatch of candidate numbers led to a misallocation of votes.

“What happened last night caught us by surprise. It shouldn’t have happened. We had to take the app and results platform down because when we published the last results with 507 polling stations, we detected an anomaly in which we noted certain candidates had results that were 28,000 and 14,000 on the app,” Saneem said.

“To cure this, the FEO had to review the entire mechanism through which we were pushing out results.”

He said the results management system was an offline system and a staging laptop was used to transmit the results to the app and website.

Saneem explained that an interruption in the process midway through the transference of data from the stating laptop to FEO results app caused a mismatch of the identification of the candidate on the FEO app to the staging laptop, hence vote numbers changed for certain candidates who received a lot of votes on the app.

“We had to delete the data that had been published and then reupload data on the FEO app.”

At 7am, Saneem officially announced the closure of provisional results for the 2022 general election.

Data entry stage
He said they were now in the data entry stage of the final results, which would be available on Sunday.

“The database has been flushed. We will now enter fresh results. This is not the provisional results database, this is a separate database completely for final results,” he said.

“The provisional results will remain. Data entry will be done from the beginning.

“The number will be lesser [than] the provisional results but this only means that the results will be re-entered from zero.”

Meanwhile, Rabuka called for Fijians to remain calm as they continued to explore avenues for redress.

Published in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme’s Wansolwara News.

The official count for the 2022 Fiji general election is now underway and there are early signs incumbent Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama could lead his FijiFirst Party to form a government for a record third term.

That is unless the numbers shift significantly towards its major rivals, the People’s Alliance Party, the National Federation Party and Sodelpa when the final results start to trickle in.

At 7am today, the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) office released its final set of provisional results — that counted 59 percent of the total vote — which shows Bainimarama’s FFP collected 162,084 votes or 45.9 percent of the total votes cast across 1238 out of 2071 polling stations on election day.

• READ MORE:  Fiji elections: Poll data app back online after late night glitch
• Fiji elections: Polls close and early results favour People’s Alliance
• Voters share ‘integrity and truth’ vision of a strong Fijian democracy
• Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage

The People’s Alliance, which is led by former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, has 115,358 votes (32.7 percent), while the NFP amassed 32,809 ballots (9.3 percent). Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), which was the major opposition in Parliament after the past two elections, received 16,202 votes (4.6 percent) which would not be enough to enter Parliament.

For other smaller parties, including the Fiji Labour Party, Unity Fiji, We Unite Fiji Party, New Generation Party, All Peoples Party, and two independent candidates, it is looking unlikely they will reach the five percent threshold needed to get into Parliament.

The final results are expected to be released on Sunday.

Glitch in the system
Provisional figures indicate turnout could have been as low as 60 percent and this became a key concern at the close of polls.

The counting process has also become a talking point as it suffered a scare late last night when the elections office found a glitch in the provisional count on the FEO Results App.

“The anomaly caused at least two candidates to receive a high number of disproportionate votes, which forced the FEO to pause the provisional count,” said Fijian Elections Office Supervisor Mohammed Saneem.

“We had to take the app and results platform down because when we published the last results with 507 polling stations we detected an anomaly in which we noted certain candidates had results that were like 28,000 and 14,000 on the app,” Saneem told media.

“To cure this, the FEO had to review the entire mechanism through which we were pushing our results,” he said.

Saneem said the result management system is an offline system and a staging laptop is used to try to transmit the results to the app and the website.

Data mismatch
“We have to see how the results change and we noted that it was in the process where we were transferring the data from the staging laptop to the app. In one instance, the upload had been interrupted midway and this caused the mismatch of the ID of the candidate in the app to the staging laptop,” he said.

This caused the vote numbers for certain candidates to change. They suddenly got a lot of those votes in the app. As a result, the elections body had to discard the data already published, reupload the data on the app, and republish it, as a result.

RNZ Pacific’s regional correspondent Kelvin Anthony asked the elections chief in Suva if the results app could malfunction again as political parties would be raising their concerns about the glitch and seeking answers.

“Don’t worry about the results app. The results management system is the data tool. We’re giving you results from the result’s management system, printouts, and you can go through it yourself,” Saneem said.

Rabuka suggests tally could have been ‘doctored’
PAP leader Sitiveni Rabuka has criticised the provisional vote count. Talking to the media today, he said the tally could have been “doctored” during a glitch which occurred during the 12-hour provisional vote count reporting period.

Rabuka has said he would be writing to Saneem and the Fiji president about his concerns.

The NFP has also raised the following issues and election irregularities with the Fijian Elections Office:

• Elections official influencing voters
• FijiFirst campaign materials being displayed during the blackout period
• Facebook campaigning for FijiFirst
• Protocols at a count centre were unclear
• Confusion over bus companies providing free transport to polling stations
• Transport monitoring officers not being present on buses providing free transport to polling stations.

Saneem has told RNZ Pacific they are looking into the claims.

At 1.45pm local time the official results were starting to show on the results app.

The first results with 28 of 2071 polling stations counted showed PAP leading with 654 votes followed by FijiFirst on 257 and Sodelpa on 104.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

FijiFirst’s Voreqe Bainimarama, the incumbent Prime Minister, looks to have scored a comfortable win in Fiji’s general election.

While the voting system and count has been complicated, and lost much credibility when the system went down, FijiFirst is likely to hold a majority of the Legislative Assembly’s 55 seats.

Sitiveni Rabuka’s People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party will make up the opposition.

• READ MORE:  Fiji elections: Poll data app back online after late night glitch
• Fiji elections: Polls close and early results favour People’s Alliance
• Voters share ‘integrity and truth’ vision of a strong Fijian democracy
• Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage
• RNZ Pacific’s live elections blog

Social Democrats and Fiji Labour Party have failed to make the five percent threshold and will not be in Parliament.

The Suva-based regional news magazine Islands Business reports that the election count was plagued by a long delay and technical breakdown last night, “as former coup leader turned Prime Minister [Voreqe] Bainimarama aimed to extend his 16-year grip on power.”

According to reporter Steven Trask, “his chief political rival Sitiveni Rabuka, a two-time coup leader nicknamed “Rambo”, held an early lead on Wednesday night before results were abruptly taken offline.

“Bainimarama’s governing FijiFirst party was in front when the reporting resumed some four hours later.

“In a hastily-arranged press conference in the early hours of [today], election supervisor Mohammed Saneem said vote counters had detected an ‘anomaly’.”

RNZ Pacific described it as a “glitch” in the system.

Michael Field is an independent journalist and author, and co-manager of The Pacific Newsroom.

People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka says any successor in government in Fiji — even if they are from an opposition party — should be accepted as a normal process in democratic systems.

Speaking to members of the media after casting his ballot at the Lower Ragg Ave polling station in Namadi, Suva, yesterday, Rabuka said he believed the polls would proceed “very well”, yet the ultimate victory belonged to God.

He also spoke about FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama feeling confident in this year’s polls.

• READ MORE:  Fiji elections: Poll data app back online after late night glitch
• Fiji elections: Polls close and early results favour People’s Alliance
• Voters share ‘integrity and truth’ vision of a strong Fijian democracy
• Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage
• RNZ Pacific’s live elections blog

“I think he’s feeling confident too,” he said, adding opposition parties had to be extremely cautious in the lead-up to the elections.”

When asked whether or not Bainimarama would accept the outcome should he fail to secure a majority win, Rabuka said the incumbent party had avenues such as the Court of Disputed Returns to turn to should the results not be in their favour.

He also said he was hoping for a “flood of votes” to ensure a strong victory.

“I accepted my defeat in 1999, congratulated Mr [Mahendra] Chaudhry outside his house and office and I hope we [Rabuka and Bainimarama] can do that.

‘Normal process’
“We cannot live forever. We cannot rule forever so successions, and even a successor who is from an opposition party, should be accepted as a normal process in democratic systems.”

He was also asked about his message to Fijians of Indian descent.

“I think there’s still fear in them but from 1992 to now, in 30 years it’s been a great era for them.

“They have seen no discriminatory policies introduced by my government. They should be pretty certain that I mean what I said then and what I say now.”

Shayal Devi is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

The Fiji Elections Office app is back online after a glitch last night forced the suspension of provisional results.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem briefed media in the early hours of today saying attempts to restart a failed data transfer had caused the app to glitch out and give a disproportionate amount of votes to some candidates.

Two candidates in particular received a boost of about 28,000 and 14,000 votes respectively.

• READ MORE:  Fiji elections: Polls close and early results favour People’s Alliance
• Voters share ‘integrity and truth’ vision of a strong Fijian democracy
• Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage
• RNZ Pacific’s live elections blog

“The situation occurred because of the termination of a data transfer. And then when we retried to do it, that’s when things got messy. Of course, with the results that are provisional right now, we are uploading you know with the result management system data directly,” Saneem explained.

Saneem reassured media the problem had now been rectified and promised to email media copies of data releases being uploaded to the app going forward to 7am Fiji time, so that they could verify for themselves the data was accurately reflected in the app.

At 7am provisional results stopped being released and the official count began.

No further provisional results were being released, and official results are expected on Sunday.

Reassurances for political parties?
Responding to a question from RNZ Pacific’s regional correspondent Kelvin Anthony about whether he had any reassurances for political parties that might be concerned about the app malfunctioning, Saneem replied: “Well, none of the political parties are at the results centre.

“So, we believe that they have full confidence in the system.”

Saneem stressed that manual data entry had not stopped while the app was down, and that the counting process was well under way and would continue throughout today.

The Supervisor of Elections also wanted to make it clear that data reloaded onto the app for the restart of the provisional results roll-out was from a different set of polling stations than the one released at 9pm last night, hence the difference in the data sets.

The first results released at last night had shown the People’s Alliance Party in the lead with 2600 votes over Fiji First’s 667 votes.

The new results released at the relaunch of the app around 2.30am Fiji time showed FijiFirst leading with 65,949 votes over the People’s Alliance Party who had 50,348 votes, with 531 of 2071 stations counted.

“It’s not the exact same polling stations that we had initially uploaded. But this is 531 sets of data that has been pulled by the laptop,” Saneem explained.

“We will email all the media, the result management system print out in a PDF format for you to be able to verify that the data that is on the app against the provisional results – by party – that has been printed out by the result management system,” he said.

Fiji uses an open list proportional electoral system with the whole nation voting as a single constituency.

This year nine political parties are contesting 55 seats in the country’s unicameral Parliament.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Polls have now closed in the Fiji general election and results are flowing in.

Voreqe Bainimarama of the FijiFirst party, and his main rival, Sitiveni Rabuka of the People’s Alliance, cast their votes at their local polling stations.

Questioned by media, they both said they were confident of victory.

Bainimarama became embroiled in a tense standoff with an Australian journalist.

Bainimarama growls at an Australian reporter.     Video: RNZ Pacific

On being asked if he would respect the outcome of the vote if it did not go in his favour, he responded that he would.

He then asked the reporter where she came from and whether Australia had “more intelligent reporters” to send to Fiji.

Soon after election day, the Multinational Observer Group is set to release an interim statement outlining its initial observations.

• READ MORE:  Voters share ‘integrity and truth’ vision of a strong Fijian democracy
• Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage
• RNZ Pacific’s live elections blog

The group said a final report would be completed as soon as practical after election day, which would include more detailed observations, an assessment of the electoral processes observed, and any recommendations as appropriate.

• As of 9.45pm (Fiji local time), Rabuka’s People’s Alliance Party had a strong lead with 4450 votes (46.04 percent) in early provisional party votes. Prime Minister Bainimarama’s FijiFirst Party had 2780 votes (28.76 percent). Professor Biman Prasad’s National Federation Party count was 1032 votes (10.68 percent). However, Bainimarama was ahead in the candidate results, leading by 1228 votes (18.75 percent) ahead of Rabuka who held 1714 votes (17.73 percent).

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Former politician Remesio Rogovakalali is hoping to see transparency and engagement in the next term of government, no matter which party is elected.

The 77-year-old principal from Corpus Christi Teachers College in Nasese says he wants to see integrity and truth among politicians.

“I’d like to also see more engagement between government, non-governmental organisations and unions,” he told Wansolwara after voting at Suva Grammar School this morning.

• READ MORE: Fijians brave the heat as numbers swell – but elections chief calls for voters
• Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage

“Fijians are more educated than previous years, education is only getting better and this will make Fijian democracy stronger.”

Rogovakalali carries a wealth of experience in politics, having stood for election twice in 2001 and 2006.

Reflecting on his time in politics, he believes truth is a powerful tool and must be adopted more in Fijian politics.

“I’ve voted at every election and it carries immense value to be able to have our voices heard. I am urging all Fijians to vote and exercise your right and civic duty,” he said.

Another figurehead at the polls today was Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry, who also called on Fijian citizens to cast their votes before 6pm.

The former PM cast his vote at 10.46am at the University of the South Pacific’s Statham Campus polling station in Suva Point with his wife, Virmatee Chaudhry.

He said reports of wide voter turnout across the country were promising signs of Fiji’s interest in the results of the election.

“To citizens still contemplating whether or not they will cast their vote, please come and vote, take part in the election. This is your future and you must exercise your right to vote,” he said.

Voters like Mereani Babara, who moved from Tavua to Baulevu in Nausori five months ago, hopes the elected government would address sanitation and water woes in areas like Waidra, Baulevu.

She looked forward to casting her vote at Koroqaqa Primary School and urged other Fijians to make their way to their designated polling venue before the 6pm deadline.

Published in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme’s Wansolwara News.

Water bottles, umbrellas and fans were common accessories for voters across Fiji today. Lines at polling stations nationwide grew quickly in the early morning, as Fijians tried to beat the midday heat.

Lines at the University of the South Pacific’s Statham Campus polling venue at Suva Point extended across the hot carpark.

In spite of the early morning rush by voters to cast their ballots, by midday Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem noted that voter turnout “is not looking very promising” as only 164,954 voters at 1145 polling stations (27.24 percent of the total registered voters) had cast their ballots by 11am.

• READ MORE: Voters turn up in numbers as Fiji’s 2022 election gets underway
• Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage

He urged every registered Fijian voter to come out and vote, and to make use of the free public transport to get to polling venues in their localities.

“The weather is good, the polling venue is ready, the line is gone, all you have to do now is show up and vote,” Saneem said during the midday Polling Day update at the National Results Centre in Suva.

“If you have voted, check in on your family members who haven’t voted. Take them out and make them vote. Spend the next 5-6 hours to get family members to go out and vote.

“If you need transport on election day, send an SMS of your VoterCard number to 1500. That SMS reply will tell you the number and details of the person monitoring public transport in that area.

‘Go and vote’
“This free public transport service will continue until 4pm so make use of it now, go and vote.”

With temperatures expected to reach 30 deg. Celsius by 1pm, with some voters raised concerns about the lack of shelter in open spaces for queues.

Voter and mother Asinate Colovanua said even although Fijians were used to the heat, there could have been provisions for water and shelter, especially for the older citizens waiting in line.

Elderly voters were eventually offered shelter in air-conditioned cars as they waited their turn to vote at the polling station.

Meanwhile, Saneem reminded Fijian Elections Office staff to refrain from introducing entry requirements for polling agents.

“There were a few issues from the field in relation to candidate agents. I’d like to clarify to FEO staff, you have to let polling agents in. There is no requirement to have their agent appointment forms stamped, do not introduce this as a requirement,” he said.

The 2022 General Election is the third post-2006 coup election and is set to be significant for cementing democracy. The number of registered voters exceeds both the 2018 and 2014 elections.

As many as 606,092 Fijians are expected to cast their votes at 855 venues today.

Fiji’s 2022 General Election will close after the last voter in the queue at 6pm has voted. The commencement of counting is expected to start thereafter with provisional results to be announced by 8pm.

Published in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme’s Wansolwara News.

By Ioane Asioli, Cooper Williams and Geraldine Panapasa of Wansolwara in Suva

Scores of people along the Nasinu-Suva corridor lined the premises of their designated polling stations as early as 6am today to cast their votes in the Fiji 2022 general election.

While polling venues opened at 7.30am, the light morning drizzle did little to deter voters from exercising their democratic right to vote.

As many as 693,915 Fijians have registered to vote in this year’s election, majority of voters are expected from the Central Division — 9916 had applied for postal ballot, while 77,907 Fijians registered to vote for pre-polling.

• READ MORE:  Fijians heading to the polls today for third post-coup election
• Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage

At 7.15am, accredited media participated in a walk-through to take photos and videos at the Suva Grammar School polling station before the first vote was cast at 7.30am.

Last night, Supervisor of Election Mohammed Saneem urged employers to allow their employees to take at least half a day or the morning session to cast their vote after receiving concerns were raised by some employees that their employers were given them ultimatums to either turn up to work at 9am or ‘face the axe’.

“It is not proper for any employer to force their employees to come to work without having voted. Is not only unjust, but it is unconstitutional.

“I cannot apply Section 141 in this circumstance… I would like to invite every single employer in this country to consider Section 23 (2) of the Constitution which reads, ‘Every citizen has the right to free, fair and regular elections for any elective institution or office established under this Constitution’.

“The Constitution does not make any allowance for any person to make law that will prohibit a person from voting. This means that neither Parliament nor an employer has the authority to stop a person from voting. They must allow their employees to vote,” Saneem said.

Voting time for employees
The Fijian Elections Office, he said, had been advocating for employers to allow employees to vote and then report to work.

He said the FEO would not hesitate to take people to court if necessary, if they did not allow employees to vote in the morning, or during the day.

“Employers must immediately rectify all their plans and allow voters to go and vote. Two hours is not enough, you must allow them enough time, that means half the day,” Mr Saneem said.

The 2022 general elections would be Fiji’s third elections under the new electoral system, which features the Open List PR system established through provisions of the 2013 Constitution, and Electoral Act 2014.

Today, 606,092 Fijians will cast their votes at 855 venues. Fiji’s 2022 General Election will close after the last voter in the queue at 6pm has voted. The commencement of counting is expected to start thereafter with provisional results to be announced by 8pm.

Published in collaboration with the University of the South Pacific journalism programme’s Wansolwara News.

More than 606,000 Fijians are expected to head to the polls today to elect a new Parliament for a four-year term.

This is the country’s third election under the 2013 constitution and since the 2006 military coup.

In the race are 343 candidates from nine political parties and two independents vying for a seat in the 55-member Parliament.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports
• Wansolwara elections coverage

Voting is taking place at 855 polling stations from 7.30am to 6pm Fiji time, or until after the last voter in the queue at 6pm has voted.

The Fijian Elections Office has announced that all voters will be provided free transport today.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said a call centre had been set up for voters — it will be staffed by 40 personnel and operate between 7.30am and 6pm.

“There are 16 venues around the country that are not voting at the location we had previously advertised for various reasons, please take note of the new locations, we will be putting up big sign boards outside these venues. So it will direct you to the new location anyway,” Saneem said.

“We will also upload the the maps to the new places so that you are able to locate it in case you are trying to find out it will be available on the FTO Facebook page,” he said.

90 observers
More than 90 observers from 16 countries and two regional organisations — the Pacific Islands Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group — will monitor polling, counting and tallying of the ballots.

In the lead-up to the election, the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) observed no irregularities.

The MOG said there were no significant issues that would prevent registered voters from casting their ballot during pre-polling, postal voting or on election day.

“I would like to acknowledge the statement received released by the multinational observer group in relation to tomorrow’s [Wednesday’s] election. And we look forward to the entire country [which] has waited for the last four years for this very important day,” Saneem said.

“Remember, decisions are made by those who turn up. If you do not turn up, do not complain. So ladies and gentlemen, from tomorrow [Wednesday], we’ll see you at 7.30am at any of our 1600 polling stations. Mark your ballot papers correctly and have your vote counted,” he said.

A total of 77,907 Fijians were registered to vote for pre-polling over the last week.

However, only 54,244 Fijians cast their votes.

Weather on voting day
Fiji is well into the cyclone season and as it has been raining heavily for periods over the weekend, it could affect voter turnout.

The 2018 election was heavily impacted by bad weather and Saneem said they were planning for the worst but hoping for the best.

• The blackout on campaigning, political advertising and media reporting of political issues, which started at midnight Fiji time on Sunday, will be lifted at the close of polling at 6pm today.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

Observers of the Fiji election have been briefed by the Supervisor of Elections ahead of polling, which begins tomorrow.

Mohammed Saneem took the observers through a comprehensive presentation on the elections process as well as the preparations of the Fijian Elections Office leading up to the issue of writs in late October.

Saneem said the observers will be deployed from today to various parts of the country where they will be observing electoral processes on the day of polling.

• READ MORE:  Showdown between two former coup leaders in fight for Fiji’s democracy
• Fiji elections media blackout
• Other Fiji elections reports

He said it was appropriate to introduce the observers to the election so that they have contextual knowledge, cultural familiarity and understanding of election processes as well as the efforts undertaken in the preparation.

The Fijian Elections Office accredited 97 observers from 16 countries, including two regional organisations.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said the Multinational Observer Group was an important initiative to support the people of Fiji and the international community to have confidence in the election outcome.

Fire damages polling venue
Saneem said his office would release information tonight on alternative voting arrangements for voters registered to cast their ballot at the Vatuwaqa Primary School in Suva.

Yesterday morning, a major fire broke out at the school which is one of 855 election day polling venues.

Despite polling due to begin tomorrow, Saneem said there was no need to panic.

“We are going to try and have it ready for you by tonight so that information can be published for tomorrow,” he said.

“There is no need to panic, we will be making alternative arrangements with suitable locations so that voters are still able to go and vote without any disruption.”

The FEO reports that 1448 voters are registered to vote at the venue.

More than 300 candidates are standing for seats in the 51-member Parliament.

• There is a media blackout in Fiji for two days prior to the polling.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

It is an ironic fact in Fiji, a multiethnic Pacific nation of under one million people, that coups don’t work and ultimately lead to constitutional reforms and democratic elections.

As Fiji goes to the polls this Wednesday, the choice is between choosing one former coup leader or another to govern Fiji for the next five years.

Both fought the same battle in 2018, and the incumbent Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama won in an election considered largely free and fair.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji election articles

The two combatants are Prime Minister Bainimarama and his challenger Sitiveni Rabuka, a former prime minister.

Bainimarama staged a coup in 2006 when he was the commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), and after changing the constitution, he was elected as prime minister twice in 2014 and 2018 in national elections.

Rabuka, at the time a lieutenant colonel in the Fiji Military, staged two coups in 1987, claiming to reassert ethnic Fijian supremacy.

Following the adoption of a constitution in 1990 that guaranteed indigenous Fijian domination of the political system, he formed the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) political party of indigenous Fijians and won two elections in 1992 and 1994 to become prime minister.

Rabuka lost power
Rabuka lost power at the 1999 election, and he was succeeded ironically by the Fijian Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry who fought the elections on a nonethnic platform and became Fiji’s first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.

A few months later, in May 2000, he was ousted by businessman George Speight with the help of rogue troops.

Significantly, Speight was not a soldier and was backed by only one faction of the army. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and remains in jail. Both Bainimarama and Rabuka were clever and powerful enough after their coups to ensure that Fiji’s constitution was rewritten to absolve them of any legal wrongdoing.

Fiji is a unique country where a Hindu Indian population known here as “Indo-Fijians” have established themselves as part and parcel of the country.

Their ancestors were brought to the islands as indentured labour by the British to work in the new sugar cane plantations. But now they have established themselves in the business sector and in politics, so much so that the economic czars of both political camps are Indo-Fijians.

The four coups of the 1980s and 1990s led to a massive out-migration of Indo-Fijians and their ratio of the population has now dropped from 50 per cent in 1987 to about 35 per cent. Ethnic tensions have in recent years diluted with the Bainimarama government’s “One Fiji” policy and the recognition of the role Indo-Fijians have played in building modern Fiji.

Though race politics is still in the background, Bainimarama and Rabuka are fighting the forthcoming elections on mainly an economic platform, with the incumbent government arguing that they have protected Fiji better than many other countries of its size from global economic currents of recent years.

Economic ‘volcano’
However, Rabuka’s opposition alliance is arguing that Fiji is in the grip of an economic volcano about to erupt.

The December 14 general election is being contested by 342 candidates from nine political parties. Bainimarama’s ruling FijiFirst Party (FFP) and Rabuka’s Peoples’ Alliance Party (PAP) will each contest 55 seats, while the National Federation Party (NFP) led by former University of the South Pacific’s economics professor Biman Prasad will field 54 candidates.

Rabuka and Prasad have formed a strong political alliance and have been campaigning together for months leading up to this election. If the PAP-NFP alliance wins, Prasad is expected to be Rabuka’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister.

Meanwhile, Bainimarama’s Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General and Minister for the Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum — an Indo-Fijian Muslim — has been accused of running the government for Bainimarama and expanding the influence of Indo-Fijian Muslims with money from Arabs at the expense of the Hindu Indo-Fijians.

Rabuka and Prasad have been campaigning across the country, asking the people to vote out the FijiFirst government to rid Fiji of the “damaging legacy of Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum”.

They are offering a “consultative government” and a democracy — as opposed to Sayed-Khaiyum’s “dictatorship”.

The message seems to have hit a chord, even though the Fiji economy has not been doing badly compared to many other countries, and Rabuka is strongly tipped to win a close election.

‘Unstoppable’, claims leader
“We are unstoppable all over the land,” Rabuka said at a recent election rally in Lautoka, an Indo-Fijian stronghold.

“We are ready to make history on December 14,” he added, “tell the people about our plans and keep emphasising that they are the centre of our mission.”

In an interview with Fiji Live, Professor Prasad revealed that if his party forms the next government with the PAP, Sitiveni Rabuka would be the Prime Minister, despite any party having more seats than the other after the election.

He confirmed that the two parties have decided that between the two of them, they will form the government, and that is the bottom line. Prasad is optimistic that they will win substantially more seats in this election and will be in a very strong position when they form the government with their partners, the PAP.

Something that is worrying Fijians is whether an unfavourable result for the government would trigger another coup. Bainimarama’s 2013 constitution has given the Fijian military constitutional rights to be its custodian:

“It shall be the overall role of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to ensure at all times the security, defence and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians.”

It goes on to say the armed forces will perform its “Constitutional Role locally and also ready to tackle the modern-day security challenges brought about by Climate Change, Radicalism and Transnational Crime”.

Honouring democracy
In an address on December 5, the RFMF commander, Major-General Jone Kalouniwai, ordered his soldiers to honour the democratic process by respecting the outcome of the votes in the 2022 general election. This comment has been widely welcomed across the political spectrum.

Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says the statement by Major-General Kalouniwai is reassuring for the party.

He told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that FLP was twice robbed of its mandate to govern by coups executed or supported by the military.

People’s Alliance deputy party leader Manoa Kamikamica said: “Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai has voiced what the bulk of Fiji want to hear — which is, we wait for the ballot box to decide.”

Professor Prasad said: “That’s an absolutely fantastic statement from the commander, and I want to thank him because everybody who believes in democracy, who believes in good governance, who believes in a free and fair election, will respect the outcome of the election.”

In a commentary published by the Fiji Times, Professor Wadan Narsey, a senior economist and political analyst in Fiji, expressed some views that reflective many of the voters, which may ultimately tip the scales of who governs after next week.

He argues that under the 2013 Constitution, the government has been able to stifle freedom of expression by the public and the media, with a large section of the taxpayer-funded public media being brought under the control of the government, effectively acting as government propaganda and to attack opposition parties and MPs.

Proper dialogue promised
“There were no such restrictions or control in the Rabuka government era, and these are unlikely to happen in the Rabuka/Prasad era,” argues Professor Narsey.

He points out that “in his recent public statements, Rabuka has promised to govern through discussion, dialogue, proper debate and compromise when necessary”.

He points out that the views of the people are not respected, even though Fiji is functioning under a “democracy”.

The government has arrested those who express views that the government does not like.

Pointing out to the MOU between PAP and NFF, Professor Narsey believes “they would not rule by fear or imposition of two men’s views on the whole country.

“They would focus on providing good health services, education, water and infrastructure like roads and electricity, which have all been failures under the current government, despite massive expenditures using borrowed money”.

“Whether it is a yearning for improvements to infrastructure, construction and allocation of school quarters, assistance to construct a bridge, issues on education, or discussions over manifestos, it is encouraging to note that many Fijians are actually making an effort to be part of the voting process,” The Fiji Times noted in an editorial last week.

“Now, as we look ahead to next Wednesday, there is a sense of ownership in the air. There appears to be a willingness to cast a ballot. There is a willingness to be part of the process,” The Fiji Times added.

Ravindra Singh Prasad is a correspondent of InDepth News (IDN), the flagship agency of the International Press Syndicate. This article is republished with permission.

The People’s Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka in Fiji says he is ready to use all the experience and knowledge he has gained in his 74 years to lead the country to peace.

Speaking to a packed audience during a rally at Nasinu Sangam School, Narere, Nasinu, on Thursday night, the former prime minister and first coup leader said he was contesting Wednesday’s 2022 general election for the sake of his great grandchildren.

“What I’m doing now is not instinct, what I’m doing now is a vision,” he said.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji election reports

“I want to serve the country. I’d like to lead a nation of harmony where people live together in harmony because I’m thinking of my great grandchildren.

“I want them to enjoy life in a country that has so many races, so many religions, so many faiths, but I want them to be happy in a multifarious, multireligious and multiracial society.

“Come away from our race and religion and gender and all those compartmentalisations we build, we think of — we’re just human. We’re human beings. We want to enjoy life. We’re going to be here for only a short while.”

Rabuka told those present that he was “74 but blessed”.

‘The scars of life’
“I’ve played a lot of dangerous sports but I’m still here, I walk with a limp, go along like a boat that’s rocking in the ocean, but those are the scars we bear when we go through life.

“With all that comes experience. With all that comes knowledge, with all that comes wisdom and what’s the use then if you take all the experience and wisdom to the grave without contributing anything to the future generation.”

He said the country was not where it should be and that Fiji had gone backwards.

“We should be way ahead of where we are because we build upon the achievements and efforts of our past governments, that’s what growth is all about.

“We just build on what the previous leaders have done.”

• The Fiji general election is on December 14.

Ella Melake is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

The People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka claims the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) “has sold its soul” in secretly “working in cahoots” with the FijiFirst party after SODELPA lodged a complaint against the alliance with the Fijian Elections Office yesterday.

Rabuka claimed the complaint against the People’s Alliance on the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs and abolishment of the soli ni yasana proved that SODELPA no longer worked in the best interests of the iTaukei but for the benefit of the FijiFirst party.

In a statement yesterday, he claimed the complaint had shown that “not only is the SODELPA president aligned with FijiFirst and Bainimarama, SODELPA, through their general secretary as the authorised officer of the party, is now working behind the scenes to fix the marriage”.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports

However, SODELPA general secretary Lenaitasi Duru said the party believed the People’s Alliance had not fulfilled a requirement of the Electoral Act regarding the declaration of funds to finance their manifesto.

“We are just following the law, the Act, the provisions that are there, we have done it so we expect everybody that’s putting out a manifesto to do it,” he said.

At a media conference yesterday, Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said the complaint was not grounds for deregistering the People’s Alliance.

He said they had asked the PA to provide a response.

“No, the party can’t be deregistered,” Saneem said.

However, he said the PA might be referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for failure to comply with Section 116.

He said the party had until today to respond to the FEO.

• The Fiji general election is on December 14.

Felix Chaudhary is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission.

People are not powerless in a “real” democracy, says prominent Suva-based Fiji lawyer Richard Naidu.

Speaking to The Fiji Times during an interview, Naidu – who writes a weekly column for the newspaper – outlined why citizens should take an active interest in politics.

“I think people have got to understand that they are not powerless in a real democracy,” he said.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports

“They’re not powerless. They have to think about the health of their parents and education of their kids and why there’s no water in the taps, and ultimately that all comes back to politics, but they have to actually believe that they can do something about it.

“You know, in countries like Australia and New Zealand, the UK, members of Parliament, ministers — even the prime minister — they’re out every weekend, meeting their constituents. Constituents are asking them to deliver things.”

Naidu said the MPs in those countries understood that if they did not work for the people, they would be thrown out at the next election.

He added that was the accountability aspect of a democracy which allowed people and ordinary citizens to get close to government through the members of Parliament.

• The Fiji general election is on December 14.

Felix Chaudhary is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission.

Malake villagers in the Ra of western Fiji have flocked to their polling station eager to vote for a government who will have the interests of their community.

Nailati Rogolea, who ferried his entire family yesterday on a fiberglass boat to Malake Island from their settlement in Naria, said choosing the next government that could address issues they faced was important to his family.

“We want to choose someone that will not only listen to their people but also look after them,” he said.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports

“The previous government has been good. They have done a lot but there is still a lot to be done to help us.

“For example, I am a boat owner and this is my main source of income.

“There is no proper jetty at the Malake landing where my people often come to rest and wait for the next boat to take them to the island.

“We have waves coming into the village and threatening houses near the shore.

Every day life affected
“Some of these things are affecting every day life in the village.

“So we need someone that will help us get the work done.”

Also accompanying Rogolea was Inise Verevune who agreed that the Malake jetty did not have proper facilities to cater for their people.

“We need a place to come and rest while waiting for our boat to the island,” he said.

“This is why I wanted to come and vote.

“I want a government that can help us.”

Repeka Nasiko is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

People’s Alliance candidate Lynda Tabuya claims her 16-year-old daughter was “harassed” by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) officers last week.

Tabuya made this allegation in a video posted on social media.

“This is my daughter coming back from school and they asked her where I was,” she said.

• READ MORE:  Rabuka condemns ‘outrageous’ arrests of deputy leaders so close to Fiji poll
• Other Fiji election reports

“And she said she didn’t know and then they said to her, ‘tell your mother that FICAC is looking for her’.”

She said this step taken by FICAC was unacceptable.

“You come to my home and harass my child, my 16-year-old who was just coming back from school, just did her exam.

“It’s just very shameful.”

Made daughter panic
Tabuya said this made her daughter panic and worry about what would happen to her mother.

“You know, they could have asked her, is there an adult in the home, can we see someone?

“But no, they came and my family was at home and they rang the doorbell like 10 times, 15 times in a row with my children inside.

“What are you doing FICAC. If you wanted to find me, you know where to find me, you have means to find me, but don’t harass my children.”

• Questions sent to FICAC by The Fiji Times on the claims made by Tabuya remained unanswered.

Rakesh Kumar is a Fiji Times journalist. Republished with permission.

With the Fiji general election just days away, a major political party has condemned the arrests of its deputy leaders on charges of vote buying.

People’s Alliance deputy party leaders Lynda Tabuya and Dan Lobendhan appeared in court on Tuesday after being questioned by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

It is alleged that Tabuya tried to gain or influence votes for the December 14 election by soliciting $1000 to the Rock the Vote Volleyball tournament in May this year.

• READ MORE: As Fiji prepares to vote, democracy could already be the loser
• Fiji elections: Solution to nation’s problems – ‘vote out FijiFirst’, says Rabuka
• FICAC replies to statements by People’s Alliance Party
• Other Fiji election reports

On the alternative count of breach of campaign rule, it is alleged that she also induced the participants to vote for Lobendhan.

Lobendhan is also alleged to have offered $1000 prize money to the tournament during the campaign period to gain or influence votes.

On the alternative count, he allegedly offered a monetary inducement to the participants.

In September, a complaint was lodged by the FijiFirst Party to the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and then referred the allegations of vote buying were referred to the anti-corruption body.

Party leader claims ‘democracy hindered’
People’s Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka has labelled the arrests as an attempt to derail their election campaign and muzzle candidates.

Rabuka said the arrest was “outrageous to democratic good governance principles” and “a ridiculous assault on our individual constitutional rights to take part in political campaign activities”.

He said after a month and a half delay, and on the eve of the election, for FICAC to move on the FijiFirst complaint was “blatant and a deliberate interference” in the country’s electoral process.

The People’s Alliance has called on the FICAC Commissioner to respect the electoral system and not hinder democracy.

“It comes as a shock considering that in his reply to the FEO letter dated September 26th 2022, Lobendahn denied having paid Rock the Vote Volleyball to exclusively invite him to events to impress his presence on social media,” said Rabuka.

“Lobendahn stated that he was invited by a colleague, working towards creating awareness to attract youths and encourage them to register to vote for the upcoming elections.”

Rabuka questioned what was unlawful about enlightening and encouraging youths to register to vote?

The matter has been adjourned to February 10.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ. 

The solution to Fiji’s problems is to vote out the FijiFirst government, says People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka.

Speaking to about 1000 supporters who welcomed Rabuka with cheers of “480” — his votng candidacy number — at the party rally in Labasa last Saturday, he assured voters that his team together with the National Federation Party would do everything in their power to rid Fiji of the “damaging legacy” of Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

“Again I stress that we cannot do it alone,” he said.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports

“We want you to be partners with us in the remaking of Fiji and we will consult with you and seek your ideas in the normal way of democracy.

“I tell you right now, you the people are the change. We the PA candidates are the change and together we are unstoppable.

“We are unstoppable all over the land. We are ready to make history on December 14 and to the candidates, keep preaching the message from our manifesto, tell the people about our planes and keep emphasising that they are the centre of our mission.”

Rabuka assured his supporters of a better future.

“We will be assessing the forestry and timber industry in Vanua Levu, again in close consultation with all stakeholders to identify how we can achieve a good, sustainable return,” he said.

“Tourism too will be given close attention in this part of Vanua Levu and in the area of Savusavu and Taveuni as we want to ensure this crucial enterprise continues to be a key driver of the entire economy.”

Serafina Silaitoga is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permssion.

When Fijians elect a new parliament on December 14, it is likely their votes will be counted fairly — yet the country will remain a conditional and fragile democracy.

This will be the third election since the “coup to end all coups” in 2006, which followed two earlier coups in 1987 and a civilian overthrow of the elected government in 2000.

After the 2006 coup, Fijian military head Voreqe Bainimarama appointed himself prime minister. In 2013 he rejected a new constitution commissioned to support a democratic state.

• READ MORE: Democracy spreads in waves – but shared cultural history might matter more than geography
• Behind the ‘world’s friendliest COVID protocols’, Fiji’s health system remains stretched and struggling
• NZ journalists arrested in Fiji have been released but a new era of press freedom is yet to arrive

Instead, he promulgated his own. Section 131(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji states:

It shall be the overall responsibility of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to ensure at all times the security, defence and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians.

In other words, overall responsibility for the wellbeing of Fiji and its people does not belong to the government or Parliament. The military interprets this as meaning it is “mandated to be the guardian of Fiji”.

Democracy’s fragility is entrenched. Furthermore, Fiji’s unicameral Parliament is not big enough to support robust parliamentary checks on government, even though it will grow from 51 to 55 members at this year’s election.

Freedom and the military
Bainimarama went from self-appointed to elected prime minister in 2014 when his FijiFirst party won the first election under the new constitution. It won again in 2018 with just over 50 percent of the vote in the country’s proportional representation system.

International observers found votes were fairly counted, but the campaign was marred by intimidation of opposition candidates.

Shortly before the 2018 election, opposition leader Sitivini Rabuka was charged with electoral fraud. He was acquitted just in time to take his place as a candidate.

Rabuka was prime minister between 1992 and 1999, having led the coups in 1987 and having described democracy as “a foreign flower unsuited to Fijian soil”. In 2022, however, Rabuka’s People’s Alliance, in coalition with the National Federation Party, is the most likely alternative government.

Cost of living, poverty and peaceful and orderly government are important election issues.

Significantly, though, the People’s Alliance manifesto suggests exploring amendments to the constitution. It also wants to remove measures that suppress human rights, previously highlighted by Amnesty International and others.

Land rights and the protection of the indigenous iTaukei culture are also important in this campaign, to the extent they have prompted an outburst typical of Bainimarama’s florid rhetorical style. At a campaign rally last week, he said of an opponent’s land rights policy:

This conversation will cause stabbing, murder and blood spilled on our land, and unlawful entering [of property] will happen if that conversation is condoned.

Fragile free speech
There are also restrictions on political reporting. As the Fiji Parliamentary Reporters’ Handbook (published in 2019) explains: “As in rugby, knowing the rules is the difference between enjoying the game and not being able to follow it.”

Journalists are reminded that the right to free speech does not allow “incitement to violence or insurrection”. The handbook goes on to remind them:

There is scope in the Constitution to “limit […] rights and freedoms […] in the interests of national security, public safety, public order, public morality, public health or the orderly conduct of elections”.

Interpretations of these limits can be broad. In November, for example, longstanding government critic and election candidate Richard Naidu was convicted of “contempt scandalising the court” following a lighthearted Facebook post in which he pointed out a spelling mistake in a High Court judgment.

The charge — which Amnesty International says should be withdrawn — was brought by the attorney-general.

Towards a more stable democracy
In my 2017 book, Indigeneity: a politics of potential – Australia, Fiji and New Zealand, I argued that political stability requires ordered and principled measures for protecting iTaukei (ethnic Fijian) rights to land and culture. This is a matter of respecting human dignity, but also to ensure those rights are not used as a pretext for settling wider and sometimes unrelated conflicts.

Stability does not arise only from the freedom to vote and from being confident one’s vote will be fairly counted. It comes also from well-informed expectations of what governments should do and what constitutions should protect, including:

• a free and diverse media, with a culture of detailed and critical investigation and reporting on public affairs
• a politically independent military, police and judiciary that aren’t called on to intimidate opponents
• a larger parliament that is more representative and allows stronger checks on the executive.

For now, while the military enjoys considerable credibility and support, its role as defender and arbiter of the public good ensures perpetual instability.

The diplomatic and economic value of its contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions means it remains an important national institution. And the recent gift of military peacekeeping vehicles from the US is an example of the soft diplomacy used by democratic states, including Australia and New Zealand, to influence contemporary Fiji.

The effectiveness of that influence will be tested at some point. In the meantime, the Fijian people are free to change their government on December 14. But the possibility they will not be free to keep that government means, whatever the election outcome, democracy has lost before a vote is cast.

Dr Dominic O’Sullivan, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

As many as 18,316 Fijians are expected to cast their votes at 149 pre-poll venues around the country for the 2022 General Election as they opened yesterday.

Pre-polling started at 8am at 24 venues in the Central Division, 52 venues in the Eastern Division, 42 in the Western Division and 31 in the North, according to the Fijian Elections Office.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said there were 77,907 registered voters for pre-polling in 613 venues.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji election reports

He said voters could access pre-poll times, venues and schedules of where teams would be on the FEO website and their Facebook page.

“The Electoral Act, under Section 82, allows for votes to be cast early in remote locations or in places where there are not enough voters for the establishment of a polling station,” he said.

“Schedules for pre-poll have also been shared with the respective turaga-ni-koro, district advisory councillors and the roko-ni-tui so that voters in their areas could be informed.

“For the 2022 General Election, the FEO has also put Pre-Poll road signs in each of the locations where Pre-Poll will be taking place.”

VoterCards needed
Registered voters are reminded to take their VoterCards to the polling station and to seek assistance from the presiding officer if they are unsure of anything while inside the station.

Saneem said the Voter Instruction Booklet (VIB) was widely distributed in pre-poll locations and FEO teams would also be carrying copies of the VIB to distribute to voters entering the Polling Station.

Pre-poll voting commences on the 35th day and ends on the 39th day after the issue of Writ.

Pre-poll ballot papers will be counted at the National Count Centre on election night.

• Nine Wansolwara student journalists, including two Australian exchange students, will be covering the Fiji election on December 14. Watch for their coverage here.

Geraldine Panapasa is editor-in-chief of Wansolwara News at the University of the South Pacific. Republished as part of a journalism education partnership.

The “politics of fear” pervading Fiji must go away, says National Federation Party (NFP) candidate Agni Deo Singh.

The former general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) attacked the “politics of fear” aimed at the hearts of voters, especially Fijians of Indian descent.

“Every time we hear about politics of fear from the FijiFirst government,” he claimed.

• READ MORE: The Fiji elections

“They are doing it currently. Trying to instil that fear in the Indo-Fijian community.

“The worst part is that this is bringing about an ethnic divide.

“We are here to bring the two major ethnic groups together.

“We don’t talk ethnicity, we don’t talk race or religion.”

Singh said people should not worry and leave security to the authorities such as the police.

Shayal Devi is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has issued a legal direction to The Fiji Times to remove an article which he said misquoted him.

Saneem objected to the headline of the article, which read: “Saneem: I will not apologise.”

Unity Fiji party candidate Riaz Mohammed had demanded that Saneem apologise for initially rejecting his nomination on the grounds of an alleged criminal conviction.

• READ MORE: Other Fiji elections reports

In response, Saneem, declining to apologise, said that if Mohammed wanted an apology “that means we have some malice, there is no malice in this”.

Saneem issued a legal notice to The Fiji Times yesterday under section 144A of the Electoral Act, directing the removal of the online article.

In a separate letter to The Fiji Times, Saneem said he “did not make the statement as quoted in your headline”.

“The headline is clearly misleading and also appears to be fabricated by Fiji Times,” Saneem said.

“If the same is your own views, then you should correctly identify it to yourself and not the SOE.”

Fiji Times disagrees
Section 144A, giving the power to the Supervisor to remove or correct “false statements” was enacted by Parliament last year.

Fiji Times editor-in-chief Fred Wesley replied it was not necessary for the Elections Supervisor to serve legal notices on the newspaper every time he wanted a correction to a news story.

Wesley said he did not agree that The Fiji Times had breached the law but was prepared to remove the article as directed because “it was not an article of great importance”.

Felix Chaudhary is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.

The Fijian Elections Office has given the green light to 342 candidates from nine political parties and two independents to contest the December 14 general election.

Twelve candidates have been rejected and two have withdrawn.

Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem said his office had received a total of 356 nominations after candidate nominations closed on Monday.

• READ MORE: Fiji PM claims only his party can deliver for the people
• Other Fiji election reports

Saneem said four parties submitted nominations for 55 candidates, which included FijiFirst, SODELPA, the People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party.

The ruling FijiFirst party and the People’s Alliance have all its 55 candidates confirmed to contest the 2022 elections, while the National Federation Party and SODELPA have 54 candidates approved.

The Fiji Labour Party has 42 approved candidates, Unity Fiji has 38, We Unite Fiji has 20, All Peoples Party has 14, and New Generation Party has 5.

“In this election, there are 56 females who have been nominated, and there are 287 males that will be contesting the election. In comparison in 2018, we have 56 females and 179 males,” Saneem said.

“So the male-to-female ratio is 83 percent are males and 16 percent females.”

There will be two independent candidates — both males.

The number of people contesting the polls is higher than in the 2018 election — which had 235 candidates.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.