The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) has announced plans to convene a Working Group Committee next Tuesday to finalize its nominee for the Presidency of Fiji. This decision comes in anticipation of a Special Parliament Sitting later this month, which will aim to nominate and endorse the country’s next president following the current president, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s decision to step down and not seek a second term in office.
SODELPA’s General Secretary, Viliame Takayawa, indicated that the Committee’s decision will shape SODELPA’s position as the nomination hearing approaches, now set for October 31. Takayawa noted that in the previous round, the party did not put forward a nominee and instead supported the Prime Minister’s appointee. However, that hearing was postponed after Rabuka retracted his nomination due to apprehensions raised by the Speaker.
Rabuka mentioned that his withdrawal was influenced by concerns regarding the nominees and a pending investigation into allegations against the current president. Following this development, the Prime Minister announced intentions to nominate Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the current Speaker of Parliament, for the presidency.
In a statement from the Fiji Government, Rabuka shared that Ratu Wiliame, whose term ends next month, opted not to pursue a second term, paving the way for Ratu Naiqama’s nomination. The Prime Minister also noted that the People’s Alliance Party parliamentary caucus was consulted before moving forward with this nomination, but did not mention any similar discussion with SODELPA or the National Federation Party (NFP).
Fiji’s presidential nomination process is outlined in Sections 84 and 85 of the 2013 Constitution, which stipulates that when a vacancy occurs, both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition must each submit a candidate for Parliament to vote on. If both parties nominate the same individual, a vote is not necessary.
As SODELPA prepares for its discussions next week, comments from NFP members are still awaited. It is believed that NFP may have been included in conversations prior to Rabuka’s announcement, reiterating their previous support for the Prime Minister’s nominee. Past presidents have included notable figures like Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, the late Ratu Josefa Iloiloivatu Uluivuda, and Jioji Konrote, who served two consecutive terms under the 2013 Constitution.