A former cabinet minister and MP suggests that the loyalties of politicians from the deregistered FijiFirst party will become evident over time. Premila Kumar, a prominent member of the Bainimarama administration, indicated to RNZ Pacific that the ongoing Budget debate in Parliament will shed light on where individual MPs stand politically.
The decline of FijiFirst, which occurred just over 18 months after losing power, was triggered by some MPs supporting a government bill for a significant pay rise, resulting in their suspension. This suspension spurred a complaint from Mosese Bulitavu, a former FijiFirst MP now operating as an independent, alleging that the party violated its constitution by excluding parliamentary leader Inia Seruiratu from Leadership Committee meetings.
The Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, subsequently deregistered FijiFirst under section 12(4) of the Political Parties Act due to the party’s lack of an internal dispute resolution mechanism, a legal requirement. Despite being given time to amend its constitution to meet legal stipulations, the party failed to do so after its founding members, including Bainimarama, resigned en masse.
Kumar stated that the now-independent 26 former FijiFirst MPs are preparing to respond to the Budget this week. “Time will tell us and the only way we can test this out is in the Parliament to see how people respond to the Budget. That will indicate [who is] standing on which side,” Kumar said. However, she also mentioned that it remains uncertain who will become independent members and who might join other parties. Confirming her stance, Kumar said she would become an independent MP and continue in opposition to hold the government accountable and scrutinize its actions.
When asked whether FijiFirst might form a new political party with the same MPs, Kumar noted that discussions would need to take place to decide on the future.
Former United Peoples Party leader and former opposition leader Mick Beddoes opined that FijiFirst had chosen its path. He suggested the party could have easily fulfilled constitutional requirements and settled its debts in time. Beddoes believes that the current sequence of events might not reveal the entire story. According to some reports, nine MPs have pledged support for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s coalition.
Fijian voters have expressed mixed reactions, with some agreeing that deregistration was fair due to non-compliance but emphasizing the need for a strong opposition to ensure governmental accountability.
Beddoes highlighted the importance of a robust opposition in any democracy and expressed opposition to the idea of a ‘government of national unity’ unless the country is facing a genuine crisis.
The future political landscape in Fiji remains uncertain as former FijiFirst MPs navigate their roles and allegiances in the wake of their party’s deregistration.