Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressed his thoughts on the political climate surrounding the Coalition Government as he reflected on the past two years. He mentioned that during the lead-up to the 2022 General Election, he faced significant criticism and was labeled negatively, noting the prevalent use of race cards in the discourse.
Rabuka shared that he has been subjected to personal insults throughout his political career, recalling similar experiences during his previous term as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999. He recognized that in both the 2018 and 2022 elections, he and Professor Biman Prasad encountered harsh political tactics, but he emphasized that these attacks did not personally affect them, although they instilled fear among voters.
He particularly noted a sense of fear within the Indo-Fijian community and took a moment to reintroduce himself, stating that he is Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, who enjoys dhal and rice. Rabuka underscored that the collaboration between himself and Prasad, along with the National Federation Party (NFP), was cemented by trust, as evidenced by their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a post-election coalition government.
He reiterated his commitment to dispelling fears and doubts about his sincerity as a leader, especially among the Indo-Fijian populace. Rabuka assured the community that they are working together to build a better future for Fiji as a united coalition. He predicted that by the time the People’s Coalition Government approaches the next election, the electoral landscape will have transformed significantly from previous experiences.