Labour: We didn’t meet PDP demands
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not form a coalition with the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) because some of PDP’s issues went against the latter’s constitution.
This was revealed yesterday by FLP senior official Daniel Urai who said FLP could not allow some of PDP’s demands as his party’s constitution would have been compromised.
He could not reveal what these issues and demands were.
“Yes we were having talks, but nothing came through and a deal could not be brokered,” he said. At the same time, Mr Urai said FLP felt PDP has made a positive move in joining SODELPA as no one party could win next year’s election against the current Government on its own.
“Any party who thinks they can do it alone under the current Electoral System, have to think again. “Having single parties would see a lot of slips in the votes so going in as coalitions forms a better platform to fight the election,” he said. “We need to do it collectively.” Mr Urai said SODELPA probably accommodated PDP’s demands and that was why they had managed to join forces. “SODELPA’s offer may have been better and more lucrative,” he said. Meanwhile Mr Urai said while the National Federation Party (NFP) has indicated that they would stand alone in the election. FLP was open for further talks on a coalition.
“We are still talking to other parties,” he said.
At the FLP delegates conference in Nadi last Saturday, FLP stalwart Ganesh Chand said other parties were invited to join the Fiji Labour Party in a coalition to contest next year’s general elections.
But by then PDP had given their allegiance to SODELPA . Several calls made to PDP leader Linda Tabuya were unsuccessful.