pn944. What is SODELPA Up To?

I was possibly a little premature when I said in my last posting that Fiji had a new government. With Fiji First and People's Alliance/ National Federation Party tied, the king maker is SODELPA. No government has yet been formed.

My assumption was (and still is) that SODELPA will opt to support the opposition coalition because its values and policies are far more aligned to them than those of Fiji First. After all, it was the Bainimarama 2006 Coup that threw out the SDL and Laisenia Qarese on the grounds of corruption and ethnic bias and Qarese went on to found SODELPA.

Its policies are the antithesis of Fiji First, including the restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs, reverting to an iTaukei land rental system that saw rent money distributed among chiefs and not the mataqali land owners, and — wait for it— a Fiji embassy in Jerusalem, not, they say, as a first step towards the creation of a Christian State but as an acknowledgement of its importance to Christianity.  And a sop to iTaukei radical Christians?

 Why, with this history and so many value and policy differences do they "appear" to be considering whether to join Fiji First to form a government?

True, there are also differences between SODELPA and the People's Alliance but these tend to be more personal. Stalwart SODELPA member Mere Samisoni, for instance, has spoken of her "distaste" for Rabuka, Tui Cakau, Lynda Tabuya and other PA leaders. 

Earlier, before the elections, SODELPA leader Wiliame Gavoka said he could not work with Rabuka. He now says it's a new ball game and there's no truth in that he cannot work with him.  We "have to do what is in the best interest of the people." So much for the truth!

Prof Steven Ratuva says the SODELPA  "issue was a complex mixture of “traditional vanua politics, personality power struggle and liumuri (backstabbing)” that was now unashamedly being played out in public"

Ploy

Notwithstanding the largely personal differences with PA, I think the meetings between the SODELPA management team and the contending parties is a ploy to extract the most possible concessions from PA/NFP. If it was speaking to only one side it would have much less leverage. It has no intention of joining Fiji First but as long as it is talking to them the more it is able to lean on PA/NFP. Neither side can form a government without them.

The management team is expected to refer its findings to PA/NFP by Wednesday. Meanwhile the talks are ongoing.

If I am proved wrong and SODELPA throws its support to Fiji Fiji, it will show "how low you can go"with personal animosities: small minded village politics, not what one would hope for from national leaders.

Related

 https://www.fijivillage.com/news/We-are-confident-to-form-new-coalition-government-with-PA-and-SODELPA--Prasad-48xf5r/

-- ACW