Poll: PM Still Top
It mirrors his impressive performance on the domestic front and international stage
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is maintaining his commanding lead as the preferred PM in the latest public opinion poll. The poll, conducted by Razor for the Fiji Sun, has Mr Bainimarama leading with 66 per cent preferring him as Prime Minister. People were asked who would they like to see elected as PM in the 2018 General Election.
The emphatic result confirms that Mr Bainimarama’s popularity has not waned since his election in the 2014 General Election, contrary to beliefs held by his political opponents that he has been losing ground. In fact, Mr Bainimarama’s performance on the domestic front is complemented by his popularity on the international stage.
In the current COP23
summit in Bonn, he has introduced the Fijian way of dialogue called the talanoa session which engages a broad spectrum of leaders, representing a diversity of interests. It’s the first time it has happened in such a big international gathering.
His leadership at the United Nations Ocean Conference that Fiji co-hosted with Sweden in New York in June and at COP23 as its president, has been widely praised.
At home, the poll result comes as no surprise. It mirrors his impressive performance. He is generally regarded as “a man of the people.”
The opinion poll shows Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa also maintaining her position in second place on 14%, ahead of SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka on 10%. Others are on 5%, National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad on 3% and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry on 2%.
People were also asked who they would like to see as deputy PM: The result: Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum 51%; Pio Tikoduadua, Niko Nawaikula 7%; Aseri Radrodro 3%; Others 3%; Unsure 28%.
89% of those polled said they had registered and would vote.
63% picked FijiFirst as the favourite to win the election.
SODELPA came second at 21%. NFP and FLP scored 3%. Unity Fiji failed to win a vote. 1% said they would not pick any of the existing parties and 9% said they were unsure.
The poll was conducted in the Central, Northern and Western divisions. The survey involved 600 people in face to face interviews.