Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is their nominee for the presidency of Fiji. In a recent statement, the Prime Minister indicated that the presidential election is slated to occur during a special session of Parliament at the end of October.
Rabuka mentioned that he chose to withdraw his previous nominee for the presidency due to some concerns regarding certain candidates. He explained that the Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, requested clarification of doubts raised before finalizing the nomination. There were questions surrounding allegations against the presidency, making it crucial to resolve any uncertainties.
The Prime Minister further stated that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has confirmed the closure of files related to the complaints against the current President. Rabuka noted that the preliminary investigation had sought help from the Financial Intelligence Unit to examine financial information on Ratu Wiliame, which was sufficient to refute the allegations.
He added that FICAC also verified the assets and liabilities declared in the Financial Intelligence Unit’s report, and the investigation found no evidence to substantiate the claims made by the complainant. Consequently, the files regarding these allegations have been officially closed.