Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ratu Wiliame Katonivere will be their candidate for the President of Fiji. In a recent statement, the Prime Minister indicated that the presidential election is set to occur during a special session of Parliament at the end of October.
Rabuka noted that there had been some concerns regarding other potential nominees for the presidency, which led him to withdraw his previous nomination from the election on Thursday. He explained that the Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, had urged him to resolve any uncertainties before proceeding with a nomination. This was in response to doubts raised about allegations against the current President, emphasizing the need to clarify any misunderstandings.
The Prime Minister mentioned that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has confirmed the closure of the files regarding these complaints against the President. He stated that the preliminary investigation had sought help from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to gather financial information on Ratu Wiliame, and the findings were sufficient to dismiss the allegations.
Furthermore, Rabuka highlighted that FICAC had verified the assets and liabilities listed in the FIU report, concluding that there is no evidence to back the claims made by the complainant. He concluded by confirming that the case files have been officially closed.