(Suva) Fijians vote on Wednesday for legislative elections with an uncertain outcome, with two ex-putschists vying for the post of prime minister of this young democracy in the Pacific.
Current head of government Frank Bainimarama, who came to power nearly 16 years ago in a coup before restoring democracy in 2014, is seeking a third term.
To win, his FijiFirst team will have to beat that of his longtime rival, Sitiveni Rabuka, a former prime minister who staged two coups in 1987 and ruled the country from 1992 to 1999.
PHOTO FROM FIJIVILLAGE.COM
Former Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
In recent years, Mr. Bainimarama has swapped his fatigues for colorful outfits, becoming an ardent campaigner in the fight against global warming which threatens this low-lying country.
The ballot promises to be tight, according to local commentators, after a campaign marred by suspicions of corruption, legal proceedings and threats against journalists.
“Some are worried about the possibility of a new coup,” warn analysts Lucy Albiston and Blake Johnson, in an article published by the Australian NGO ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute).
“Although there are no reliable pre-election polls, it seems that Mr. Rabuka could win,” they add, noting that Mr. Bainimarama, unlike his opponent, has not pledged to respect the result of the election.
Fiji had two democratic elections in 2014 and 2018 after 35 years of instability marked by four coups.
The role of the army will be essential. Commander General Jone Kalouniwai said his forces “will honor the democratic process by respecting the outcome”.
The American organization for the promotion of democracy Freedom House considers that Fiji is “partially free”, the “repressive climate” resulting from previous coups d’etat having eased.
However, she points out that “the ruling party frequently interferes with opposition activities, that the judicial system is under political influence and that violence committed by the army and the police is a significant problem”.
Double-edged weapon
Mr Bainimarama called Wednesday’s poll the “biggest ever”.
During the pandemic, the thousands of people who lived on tourism found themselves unemployed and the amount of the country’s debt exploded. In addition, inflation is currently hovering around 5%.
“We know the issues: our recovery, our jobs, support for families and strong leadership that serves everyone equally,” Mr. Bainimarama said during the election campaign.
Previous polls reflected a wide divide between Indo-Fijians — descendants of indentured laborers from India — and indigenous Fijians, or iTaukei.
Mr. Bainimarama was one of the first politicians to understand the importance of forming a coalition between the two.
However, being in power since 2006 is a double-edged sword for the current prime minister, according to political commentator Shailendra Singh of the University of the South Pacific in Suva.
This may be “a curse in that people might feel that this government has been in power for too long,” Singh told AFP, pointing to possible “voter fatigue”.
At a final campaign rally, Mr Rabuka — a former international rugby player — said Fijians were ready for change.
“After 16 years of a disastrous dictatorial regime, we are about to end it,” he told his supporters. “We are going to relegate them to the dustbin of history where they belong.”