During a recent reflection on the political journey of the Coalition Government over the past two years, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka discussed the negative labels he has faced and the accusations made against him, emphasizing the prevailing use of racial narratives ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Mr. Rabuka expressed that he has been demonized and called a “snake.” He noted that he has developed a thick skin regarding personal insults, recalling that he endured similar treatment during his previous tenure as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999 alongside fellow politician Jai Ram Reddy.
He pointed out that during the 2018 and 2022 elections, he and Professor Biman Prasad were subjected to the same type of disparaging politics, which did not personally affect them but created fear among voters, particularly within the Indo-Fijian community. To counter this, he introduced himself humorously, stating that he enjoys dhal and rice, to reaffirm his identity and connection with the voters.
Rabuka highlighted that Professor Prasad would not have agreed to a coalition government if there was no mutual trust between them and the National Federation Party. He aimed to dispel any fears regarding his sincerity as a national leader, particularly among the Indo-Fijian community, stressing that they are “rebuilding Fiji’s future together” as a united three-party coalition government.
Looking ahead to future elections, he predicted that the electoral landscape would be significantly different from what it has been in prior years.