The deregistered FijiFirst members of Parliament have declined an invitation from Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry to join their 2026 election campaign.
Opposition member Mosese Bulitavu confirmed this news while defending Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who was recently criticized by Mr. Chaudhry for hosting a party for his Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers in Suva.
Mr. Bulitavu described Mr. Chaudhry’s criticism of the Prime Minister as a childish attempt to gain “cheap political points.”
“The Fiji Labour Party must understand that the majority of deregistered FijiFirst voters will never support them and will instead align with the current Prime Minister’s Government,” said Mr. Bulitavu.
He further stated that the former FijiFirst MPs, now independents, rejected the Fiji Labour Party’s offer to join and represent them in Parliament, indicating that FijiFirst voters in 2022 do not see FLP as a viable option.
“Fiji Labour Party has failed to secure a seat in Parliament in the past three elections, showing that the people do not trust them,” he added.
Mr. Bulitavu also claimed that if the FLP were to come into power, the Government would be unable to unite the nation and ensure the stability that Mr. Rabuka has maintained so far.
“I call on the Fiji Labour Party to collaborate with the Prime Minister on issues to move the nation forward, rather than focusing on electoral gains for the 2026 elections,” Mr. Bulitavu urged.
As a member of the crossbenchers in Parliament, Mr. Bulitavu asserted that Mr. Rabuka is performing well and that most Fijians are pleased with his leadership.
“The critics can continue, but he remains the man in the arena,” he stated.
He also mentioned that all the points raised by the Fiji Labour Party in its recent post “Let’s congratulate ourselves,” are vastly outnumbered by the achievements made under the Prime Minister’s leadership since taking office.