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Politics People rule Tongan Parliament votes P18
Corruption Amid the vocano crisis P19

SPORTS OPINION

Personalities will clash as Fijians prepare to go to the ballot

Stage set public advertisement that announced the the polls, which will likely again feature
threats and warnings about destabilisa-
call for selection for Fiji First candidates,
tion in the event of an opposition victory,”
stated his vision.
“We have achieved more for everyone in
he says.
for 2018 a short period and we promise to achieve Dr Lal also has a similar scenario where
more for everyone with the sup-
he predicts Fiji First will play up on
port of like-minded people who
the security fears in the country to
Fiji vote believe in our success as a modern keep the Indo-Fijians on their side.
“FFP will trumpet its record,
island state and who always put
portray itself as the champion of
Fiji first,” he is quoted as saying.
The larger opposition party, SO-
But what kind of security? Fiji
DELPA has already named 30 can- security which the people want.
didates and the party machinery is has been a stable country and the
now in full swing, campaigning for military has said there won’t be
the elections. any other coups,” argues Lal.
“The 2014 election was won on Viti Dr Biman Prasad of the NFP is also
Levu and Fiji First stacked up big majori- rising in popularity with his media savvy
ties in the more densely populated areas of political traits and concentration on issues,
By Anish Chand the country — in the Central and Western instead of personalities. Several issues that
division,” said Jon Fraenkel, Professor of are dear to the middle and low income
THE personality of Fiji’s Prime Minister Comparative Politics at Victoria University earners in Fiji is what the NFP will fight for.
Frank Bainimarama ensured that his Fiji of Wellington. “In 2014, the Fiji First had the state
First party won an outright majority in the “Subsequent shifts in the leadership of purse and it was freebies galore. People
2014 polls, but that could change come SODELPA show that party is gravitating now understand how the system works
this year. towards its Vanua Levu base, but to fare and voters are aware what affects their
The four years has given opposition strongly that party needs to become more livelihoods, which the NFP is targeting in
parties an opportunity to strongly chal- competitive on Viti Levu. That presently its pledges,” says Dr Lal.
lenge Fiji First policies under the 2013 looks unlikely,” adds Fraenkel. This will be a high-stake elec-
Constitution, which could not be done in Proving opinions like this to be tion, which is currently tilted in
an era when Fiji was without a parliament wrong will be the task of Sitiveni favour of the incumbent Prime
and government ruled by decrees. Rabuka. Minister and his Attorney General
2018 will also see the return of former Political pundits are keenly wait- Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka to the ing for the head-for-head clash be- The two, however, will go into
political arena who is no doubt going to be tween Rabuka and Bainimarama, election facing an energised op-
very vocal against Bainimarama. both of whom have been former position, with both SODELPA and
There will be 51 seats to be contested Fiji Military Forces Commanders. NFP using the administration’s
with an expected 250 plus candidates to One of these experts will be Canberra failings as a rallying point.
go on the ballot paper. based Dr Brij Lal, who is now prohibited High cost of living, dwindling health
The three big names to watch out for from entering Fiji after he was deported services, civil servants’ reforms, the ailing
in the 2018 elections will be Frank Baini- from here in November 2009. sugar industry, land ownership, media
marama’s Fiji First, Sitiveni Rabuka’s “Sitiveni Rabuka is a more effective control are some of the issues already
SODELPA and Dr Biman Prasad’s National communicator and SODELPA will do better being debated.
Federation Party. The single constituency this time,” says Dr Lal of the Australian On the other hand, Fiji First will boast
electoral system, which played nicely with National University. “SODELPA will go that it presided over economic growth for
Bainimarama in 2014 because of his after the top two in Fiji First and hope the seven consecutive years, has uplifted the
popularity, will also be tested in 2018. I-taukei (indigenous Fijians) switch their livelihoods of Fijians through its social
Almost all the active politicians in Fiji allegiance this time,” adds Lal. welfare programmes, tax incentives, free
have had four years to serve the Fijian In 2014, 50 per cent of the indigenous education and brought about equal citi-
people, what they now await is the poli- voting population and 80 per cent of the zenry to all Fijians.
cies and promises these politicians will Fiji Indian population voted for Fiji First. On the ground, at least for now there
offer them in the lead-up to the 2018 polls. Jon Fraenkel believes that scenario will are mixed views on which political party
Frank Bainimarama and his Fiji First most likely be reflected again in the 2018 will win the 2018 elections, but one thing
Party have not officially started campaign- results. that is necessary is that all political par-
ing yet, but the former military leader told “In 2014, around 80 per cent of the Fiji ties must agree to contest the elections
Parliament last year that he will again lead Indians voted Fiji First as did around half under democratic rules and on a level
his party into the 2018 elections. I-Taukei people. Any disillusionment on playing field.
The party is now in the process of se- the part of the Fiji Indian community can r achandftv@gmail.com
lecting candidates and Bainimarama, in a be expected to dissipate in the run up to

14 Islands Business,, November 2017