The People’s Alliance/National Federation and SODELPA will form the next government.
The announcement has been made SODELPA’s negotiation team lead, Anare Jale.
Jale says in a secret ballot, 16 SODELPA management board members voted for a coalition with the People’s Alliance and NFP while 14 board members voted for the FijiFirst Party.
He says the management board members met for a few hours today.
He says it has not been an easy decision on the way forward for Fiji and it was a big responsibility for SODELPA.
Jale says the decision was a tough one and a decision that took into account the offers and presentations by the parties.
FijiFirst Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama led the delegation for the party and made the presentation to the management board this afternoon while the People’s Alliance presentation was done by senior members of the party and the National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad.
fijivillage News has received confirmation from SODELPA General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru that a written directive from the party will then be given to the three SODELPA MPs, Viliame Gavoka, Aseri Radrodro and Ifereimi Vasu to follow the party’s decision and vote for the chosen party in parliament.This will be legally binding.
If someone does not vote along the party lines, then according to the 2013 Fijian Constitution, they will lose their parliamentary seat.
Based on this Sitiveni Rabuka will have the majority votes in parliament and will be the next Prime Minister of Fiji.
Rabuka was last Prime Minister in 1999.
He lost the elections to the People’s Coalition led by Mahendra Chaudhry.
