The dissolution of the political party FijiFirst has resulted in a bitter conclusion to the political careers of its founders, Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Jioji Kotobalavu, who previously served as a permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, responded to the party’s termination by stressing its significant implications.
Kotobalavu recalled the founders’ first foray into politics with the military coup led by Bainimarama in December 2006, which overthrew the democratically-elected multi-party government of then Prime Minister, the late Laisenia Qarase.
He noted that FijiFirst performed well in the 2014 General Election, winning 59 per cent of all votes and 32 parliamentary seats. They formed a government under Bainimarama’s leadership with Sayed-Khaiyum holding multiple ministerial positions. However, the party’s fortunes declined in subsequent elections, with a significant decrease in votes and seats in 2018 and even more in 2022.
Kotobalavu also highlighted the party’s significant unpaid debts and public reports of Bainimarama’s imprisonment for abuse of authority. He noted that the party’s founders resigned, leaving the remaining 24 members to serve independently. He doubted that any of these former FijiFirst MPs would want to reform the party given its debt.
He concluded that the pair’s only lasting contribution was their 2013 Constitution, which he suggested needs amendment to improve governance in the nation.