Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka recently spoke about the challenges he faced leading up to the 2022 General Election, acknowledging that he was labeled a “snake” and subjected to various accusations, including the use of racial commentary. Reflecting on his political journey with the Coalition Government, Rabuka emphasized that personal insults do not affect him, having previously encountered similar attacks during his time in office from 1992 to 1999.
He noted that both he and Professor Biman Prasad faced what he described as “gutter politics” during the 2018 and 2022 elections, which, while not personally damaging to them, created a climate of fear among the electorate, particularly within the Indo-Fijian community. To address any lingering doubts about his sincerity, Rabuka introduced himself again, highlighting his connection to the community by mentioning his favorite dish—dhal and rice.
Rabuka stated that Prasad’s willingness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a post-election coalition government demonstrated mutual trust between them and the National Federation Party. He expressed his desire to eliminate any fear and uncertainty regarding his leadership. Looking ahead, Rabuka assured that they are working together to rebuild Fiji’s future as a united three-party coalition government, predicting a significantly transformed electoral landscape by the time of the next election.