SODELPA to decide today
continue today.
The PA delegation, comprising deputy leader Manoa Kamikamica, Keni Dakuidreketi, Suva lawyer Simione Valenitabua and general secretary Sakiasi Ditoka were seen walking out of the Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) on Saturday after meeting the SODELPA negotiation team.
NFP leader Biman Prasad, party president Pio Tikoduadua, vicepresident Lenora Qereqeretabua, Suva lawyer Richard Naidu and successful candidate Sashi Kiran met with the SODELPA team yesterday.
The final election results released yesterday had FijiFirst with 26 seats, The PA 21 seats, NFP 5 seats
and SODELPA 3 seats. SODELPA’s six-person team is led by unsuccessful election candidate Anare Jale.
FijiFirst and The PA-NFP coalition need SODELPA’s three seats to form the next Government.
It is understood that SODELPA was offered deputy Prime Minister position by The PA. Mr Rabuka and Mr Prasad confirmed that they had offered the President post for Ro Teimumu Kepa.
Mr Gavoka assured Fijians that their decision would be for the betterment of Fiji.
“Mr Anare Jale, who was a parliamentarian, is a very experienced negotiator and has a very good resume. It is a very experienced team of six.
“We have had meetings last evening with both parties FijiFirst and PAP. The results of that meeting were discussed today with the working committee, and they went back with our counter proposals, and they are also responding to those proposals.
“We have also met separately with the National Federation Party so all in all meetings are happening.”
He thanked every Fijian that voted for SODELPA in the 2022 General Election.
“We are fully aware of the significance of what we have to do to ensure that this country has a Government in the next few days. We have had meetings with our people.
“SODELPA is managed by a management board so whatever happens, the decisions we will make, will be made by the management board.
“It gives us the comfort to ensure that we have the best brains in the country so to speak within SODELPA to decide on how to proceed and make the choice.
“Tomorrow (today), the negotiation team will again engage with those parties on the other parts of the offer and our counter proposals, and we hope that we can take the final offers to the Management Board soon for them to make a
choice to who will be our partner in forming Government.”
The PA and NFP are confident of forming the new government with SODELPA.
The PA leader, Sitiveni Rabuka said: “I would like to personally thank the National Federation Party for their staunch support before and now after the campaign season,” he said.
“We have now established a good working relationship. In fact, this is not the only time we have worked together.”
Meanwhile, the NFP leader, Biman Prasad, said: “I would like to thank our candidates, all brave men and women who came forward and offered themselves to be our candidates.
“I would like to publicly thank everyone that attended our meetings,” he said.
He said they were adamant that SODELPA would make the right decision.