Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is the nominee for Fiji’s President. In a recent statement, Rabuka indicated that the election for the presidency is scheduled to occur during a special session of Parliament at the end of October.
The Prime Minister mentioned that he had previously withdrawn his own nominee due to some concerns surrounding certain candidates for the presidency. Rabuka explained that Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu had requested clarification regarding doubts raised about the nominations. These doubts were tied to an allegation concerning the President, making it essential to resolve any ambiguity prior to proceeding with the nomination.
Rabuka stated that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has confirmed that investigations into the complaints against the President have been concluded. He noted that the preliminary investigation involved the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which provided information regarding Ratu Wiliame’s financial records, effectively disproving the allegations.
Additionally, Rabuka mentioned that FICAC validated the assets and liabilities listed in the FIU report, and the investigation’s findings indicated a lack of evidence to support the allegations made by the complainant. He concluded by confirming that the case files have been officially closed.