'All eyes are on Fiji': Coalition govt to remain intact for now

Fears of the Fijian coalition government collapsing have been averted for now, with the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) vowing to support the Sitiveni Rabuka-led administration.

The board of the SODELPA party met today to consider issues around the sacking of their MP Aseri Radrodro as Minister of Education by prime minister Rabuka one week ago.

Rabuka said Radrodro was dismissed for insubordination and disobedience for failing to follow his directives and not responding to numerous requests over matters to do with the Fiji National University (FNU).

Earlier this week Radrodro blamed the saga on miscommunication and an inexperienced administration, and asked to be reinstated to his Cabinet role.

Better days: Fiji's coalition parties - PAP-NFP-Sodelpa - signed the coalition agreement on 20 December 2023.(file image). Photo/ National Federation Party

Throughout the week, tensions were high as media reported that some within the SODELPA party were in favour of leaving the coalition and siding with the opposition party FijiFirst.

At the same time another alleged scandal had surfaced involving Radrodro.

However, two thirds of the 43-member SODELPA board met this morning in Suva and agreed to continue supporting the Rabuka-led coalition government and to ask for Radrodro to be reinstated as education minister.

SODELPA leader, and deputy prime minister, Viliame Gavoka told reporters after the meeting that “the management board of SODELPA fully supports the coalition government of the day and the Honourable Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka”.

“That should be made clear and there should be no ambiguity with that, that we are fully supportive of the government of the day and that we want the coalition to serve its entire term, which is for four years,” Gavoka said.

Sodelpa's Aseri Radrodro. Photo/ Supplied

SODELPA also called on Rabuka to reinstate Radrodro to his ministerial portfolio as they believe the Prime Minister’s directives had been followed.

“We believe that a number of issues were not clear, that some communication could have been better, and that in all, Hon. Radrodro has done exactly what was required of him by the Prime Minister and the charter of FNU.”

"We were in one accord, the support is unanimous from within the management board and from within the SODELPA party across the country," Gavoka said.

Radrodro was dismissed by Rabuka from his post on 20 January, with effect from 22 January, after Radrodro’s decision to terminate the appointment of the chairperson and three members of the Fiji National University Council in May last year.

Rabuka had directed Radrodro to reinstate the FNU Council members, following advice from the Solicitor General that the former minister’s decision was unlawful and must be withdrawn.

Rabuka said Radrodro had not followed his directive and failed to give an explanation as to what happened.

On 22 January, in response to his termination letter from the prime minister, Radrodro gave a detailed account of what he believed occurred, insisting that he had carried out the directive and asked that he be reinstated to his post.

Radrodro also publicly apologised to the people of Fiji and the Ministry of Education for the “unfortunate saga”.

Watch the full interview with Professor Dr Anna Powles:

This morning, before the SODELPA meeting, Massey University Associate Professor Dr Anna Powles, a specialist in Pacific security and geopolitical issues, told Levi Matautia-Morgan on 531pi's Pacific Mornings, that there have been a number of tension points for the coalition.

“This is probably one of the most critical flashpoints for the coalition … all eyes are on Fiji,” said Dr Powles.

“If we have a look at coalition politics, we know that they're tricky and particularly difficult when you have parties of various different political backgrounds.”

She said this issue has been particularly messy and complicated, but there has been a long period of stability in Fiji and a number of very important initiatives have been introduced during this period.

Radrodro told reporters after the SODELPA board meeting today that the resolution by the party's management board was reassuring.

However, Radrodro has also been named in explosive allegations by the website FijiLeaks, involving extramarital relations with another Cabinet Minister while on an overseas trip.

Radrodro has not commented on the allegations.

And it’s also being reported by RNZ that Fiji’s anti-corruption office has received a complaint against deputy prime minister, and SODELPA leader, Gavoka for abuse of office and fraud.

Local media report the complaint is in relation to a Fiji Airways chartered flight to Israel late September last year, which took over 200 Christian pilgrims to attend Jerusalems’ Feast of Tabernacles celebration.

It’s alleged that Gavoka authorised the chartered flight despite knowing there was not enough money to cover the US$1.3 million Fiji Airways fee.

Fiji’s coalition government is made up of Rabuka’s People's Alliance party, the National Federation Party (NFP) and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).