Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is their nominee for the position of President of Fiji. The Prime Minister stated that the presidential election is anticipated to occur during a special session of Parliament at the end of October.
Rabuka explained that there had been some concerns regarding certain candidates for the presidency, which prompted him to withdraw his previous nominee for the election. The Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, had requested clarification on the issues raised before any nominations could be made. These concerns included allegations against the current President, making it crucial to resolve any uncertainties.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has closed the files related to complaints against the President. He noted that a preliminary investigation had sought information from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) concerning Ratu Wiliame’s financial background, and the information received was adequate to disprove the allegations.
Rabuka further stated that FICAC had verified the assets and liabilities declared in the FIU report, and based on the inquiry’s results, there is no evidence supporting the claims made by the complainant. He concluded by stating that the files associated with the allegations have been officially closed.