After turbulent parliamentary elections in the Pacific island nation of Fiji, there is no clear political majority in sight. Both Fiji’s First Party of current Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and the coalition led by opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka each have 26 of the 55 parliamentary seats, according to the tally published online by Fiji’s electoral office. The elections have political significance beyond Fiji: the current candidate, Bainimarama, is close to China – while his opponent, Rabuka, seeks greater distance from Beijing.
Complicated and protracted negotiations are likely to take place before a government can be formed. Leading candidates Bainimarama and Rabuka are already courting the small Social Democratic party around deeply religious businessman Viliame Gavoka, who has three seats in the future parliament and is likely to tip the scales.
Change of position already several times by coup d’état
Fiji has been rocked by four coups in the past 35 years. Both the current Bainimarama and his challenger Rabuka had already come to power through coups. Before this year’s elections, many people hoped in vain that things would go well. The extremely close result follows allegations of fraud and calls for military intervention.
The tropical country of Fiji, made up of more than 300 islands, has less than a million inhabitants. Yet Fiji is one of the most influential actors in the South Pacific and has a powerful voice in the global debate about the consequences of climate change. Fiji, which is already threatened by rising sea levels, was the first country in the world to ratify the Paris climate agreement in 2016.