Small parties clap back at Vosarogo’s statements

APP’s leader says victory comes from the Lord

Smaller political parties have slammed statements made by People’s Alliance candidate Filimoni Vosarogo during his campaign meetings urging voters not to waste their votes on smaller political parties.

Mr Vosarogo said these parties don’t have a chance to meet the five per cent threshold.

At a campaign meeting this week, Mr Vosarogo claimed that at least 12,000 voters wasted their votes in 2018 because they voted for political parties that did not meet the threshold.

He had encouraged voters to vote for parties they know would meet the five per cent threshold.

“Party leaders have the power to influence the votes and this can be achieved if they are able to convince supporters on why they should vote for them,” Mr Vosarogo said.

New Generation Party

New Generation Party acting party leader, Varinava Tiko said Mr

Vosarogo was misleading Fijians.

“I am challenging big political parties to stop misleading the people,” said Mr Tiko.

“These parties are not ready to unite, they are not ready for coalition with each other, they want to dictate again,” he said.

“The more the candidates these parties fill, the higher their costs which forces them to beg money from big businesses and lure money from their supporters.”

He also shared on his political Facebook page on the topic of unity.

“What’s the difference between being racist, not acknowledging that we’re all ‘Fijians’ and political parties still segregating candidates into old constituency boundaries, when there’s only one? Aren’t they the same,” he added.

The New Generation Party has fielded five candidates for the 2022 General Elections.

All People’s Party

All People’s Party (APP) leader, Tuiloma Tawaivuna has told Mr Vosarogo to be very careful with the type of statements he makes. Mr Tawaivuna said he strongly opposed the statement made by him.

“I am warning PAP now and Vosarogo, they have to work really hard to get the numbers because victory does not come from being a big party, victory does not come from your reputation, victory does not come from your position, victory comes from the Lord,” he said.

“For him (Vosarogo) to say that we don’t have a chance as small parties, I strongly oppose that and I am saying right now that they have to work really hard to get the number because most of their voters and believers are turning away from PAP now.”

He claimed that PAP had compromised its position by being together with National Federation Party (NFP) leader, Biman Prasad. Mr Tawaivuna added that NFP’s fielding of its first transgender candidate, Divina Loloma was an abomination to God.

Unity Fiji

Unity Fiji Leader Savenaca Narube advised Mr Vosarogo that the smallness of the party would only be determined on December 14.

“Let us not predict who is small and big, we are all equal in this race,” he said.

“To us, we do not consider ourselves small at all because our support is exploding around the country, they see we have the new ideas that we have.”

I am warning PAP now and Vosarogo, they have to work really hard to get the numbers because victory does not come from being a big party, victory does not come from your reputation, victory does not come from your position, victory comes from the Lord. Tuiloma Tawaivuna All People’s Party (APP) leader

We Unite Fiji

WUF candidate, Nitish Sharma said the party candidates of the other parties were entitled to their own opinions.

“As for saying small parties not having a chance, I think it is quite evident that a lot of people are tired of seeing the same old faces, they want someone new who they have not seen, yes there are people who think that we do not have a chance, they are either scared of a change or scared that maybe we might take power from the people,” said Mr Sharma.

“WUF is here to help bring actual change to the people of Fiji, to be honest I think PAP does not have a chance of winning.”