Aupito says Peters may well become Govt critic once his deputy shift ends

“There will be a lot of people asking ‘Will this coalition last?’”

That's former Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio, weighing in on the coalition arrangements of our country's newly sworn-in government.

Speaking on 531pi’s Pacific Mornings, Aupito and National Party List MP Fonoti Agnes Loheni both commented on how the shared Deputy Prime Minister role will work.

Aupito believes that once Winston Peters’ run ends, he may start roasting his counterpart David Seymour as part of his re-election efforts.

“Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has been around long enough to know where the power lies. I think it’s a huge win he’s got the Deputy Prime Minister (and) he’s first, so he gets to be the statesman supportive of the Prime Minister.

“Then after 18 months he can go off campaigning for 2026 and start criticising the young lad that’s next up for Deputy Prime Minister,” he chuckles.

Fonoti has confidence in the ability and experience of those named to carry out their ministerial appointments, saying they are “well deserved”.

But as for the Deputy Prime Minister shift-switch, she says we’ll have to wait and see.

“In terms of the deputy co-share arrangement we’ll see how that goes but I think it’s ultimately three parties coming together to agree [to] going forward and I think they’ve done that very well.”

Watch the full panel discussion below: