SODELPA (IN SUSPENSION), WHO WINS?
Who will emerge as the winner if the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) (in suspension) deregisters? The Kshatriya Hall faction. If SODELPA (in suspension) deregisters, none of their 21 parliamentarians will lose their seats in Parliament. They will continue to be Members of Parliament (MPs).
The only thing that will change is that they will have the option of joining another political party or continue as independent MPs.
And if they do continue as independents, they can of course form groupings and talk as a group.
One has to remember, as per Nemani Delaibatiki’s Analysis, the faction headed by Sitiveni Rabuka does have more votes.
The faction headed by Ro Teimumu Kepa has more liberals whose views on issues have been far more moderate compared to their other fellow SODELPA (in suspension) MPs.
A lot of vocal Rabuka supporters have urged that his faction breaks away from the party (in suspension) because they have been able to see that as a break-away group, they could possibly have more support from the ground.
Who would be the Opposition leader? Rabuka backed by National Federation Party could definitely continue as Opposition Leader and he suspects he may receive that support from the smaller Opposition Party.
Is this the motivation of the Kshatriya Hall faction?
Time will tell us.