Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed allegations that he is attempting to suppress dissent within the Coalition Government or from within his own political party amid concerns regarding his leadership stability. In a recent interview, he addressed the new voting procedures in Parliament, where members stand and publicly declare their votes, a practice that aligns with parliamentary protocols observed globally.
For the first time, Members of Parliament (MPs) were called upon to openly support the appointment of the President and to participate in the election of the new Speaker through a roll call. This change in procedure has sparked concerns of internal conflict within the Coalition and among factions of the People’s Alliance party.
Rabuka’s leadership was recently confirmed when he garnered 28 votes, slightly surpassing former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who received 27 votes during the parliamentary leadership contest. Despite the tensions, Rabuka asserted that he is unaware of any attempts to undermine his authority and emphasized that these procedural changes are in line with established parliamentary rules.
He pointed out that the new voting method was introduced with guidance from a legal team provided by the United Nations Development Programme, which has been working on enhancing parliamentary operations and aligning them with best practices.
This moment in Fijian politics highlights an important phase of transparency and accountability as new procedures are adopted. The Prime Minister’s efforts to modernize parliamentary practices could foster a healthier political environment, encouraging open dialogue among MPs and ultimately strengthening the democratic process in the country.
By emphasizing adherence to global parliamentary standards, Fiji may be taking steps toward increasing political stability and citizen trust in its governance.
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