Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua told Parliament that the Office of the President played a decisive constitutional role in preserving stability during the fraught transition that followed the 2022 general election, and used the occasion to praise the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) for an asserted shift toward professionalism under its current leadership.
Speaking during debate on the President’s Address, Tikoduadua said the Presidency, led at the time by Ratu Wiliame Katonivere — the Tui Macuata — “carried a significant constitutional responsibility” as institutions navigated a period of political uncertainty. He said Katonivere “presided over the constitutional processes that followed the election with confidence, courage and strength,” providing “continuity and calm” while mechanisms for forming government were carried out and the nation watched how its institutions would respond.
Tikoduadua told MPs the conduct of state institutions during the transition helped bolster public confidence in democratic governance, a key point given Fiji’s history of political disruptions. He said it was important to reflect on that period “with honesty,” noting both the progress made and the lingering questions that have surrounded the 2022 election process.
Turning to the RFMF, the minister acknowledged the military’s long record of representing Fiji in international peacekeeping operations, including decades of service under United Nations and other arrangements. At the same time he conceded the force’s past entanglements in political developments, saying there were times when the military “became involved in political developments in ways that served particular political agendas.”
“Today, the direction of the institution is different,” Tikoduadua said, singling out Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai for recognition. He praised the current leadership’s emphasis on “professionalism, discipline and service to the nation,” and said efforts were underway to strengthen professional standards and ensure the RFMF performs its duties “within the framework of the law.”
Those remarks echo themes Major General Kalouniwai has articulated publicly, including comments earlier that the post-2022 environment allowed the RFMF to pursue reconciliation and recommit to the rule of law. Tikoduadua’s endorsement in Parliament signals political support for that trajectory and frames the military’s evolution as central to national stability.
The defence minister’s reflections come as debate continues in political and public forums about the events surrounding the 2022 vote-counting and the subsequent transition — issues that have prompted calls for further review in some quarters. By highlighting the stabilising role of the Presidency and the RFMF’s renewed professional focus, Tikoduadua positioned Fiji’s institutions as having acted to maintain order and uphold constitutional processes during a testing moment.
Tikoduadua made his remarks as part of the wider parliamentary discussion of the President’s Address, offering what he described as a brief reflection on a recent moment in national history and an acknowledgement of institutions and leaders who, in his view, helped the country navigate political uncertainty.
Leave a comment