Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reflected on the challenges faced by the Coalition Government over the past two years, stating that during the lead-up to the 2022 General Election, he was branded a “snake” and faced various accusations, including the frequent misuse of race-related issues.
In his comments made yesterday, Mr. Rabuka expressed that he had been demonized and insulted but stated that he is resilient to personal attacks. He recalled a similar experience with Jai Ram Reddy during his time as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999.
The Prime Minister noted that he and Professor Biman Prasad encountered comparable gutter politics during the 2018 and 2022 elections, which instilled fear among voters, particularly within the Indo-Fijian community. To address this, he humorously suggested that he might reintroduce himself, stating, “I am Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, whose favourite dish is dhal and rice.”
Mr. Rabuka emphasized that the trust between him and Mr. Prasad was strong enough for the National Federation Party (NFP) leader to agree to a post-election coalition government. He reassured the public about his sincerity as a national leader, particularly to the Indo-Fijian population.
He concluded by asserting the importance of unity within the three-party coalition government, expressing a commitment to rebuilding Fiji’s future together. Mr. Rabuka confidently predicted a transformed electoral landscape by the next election compared to previous experiences.