SODELPA Split Over Coalition Moves Symptomatic of its Governance Issues
The SODELPA rumblings about changes implemented by the new coalition Government that we heard a few weeks ago have finally come out into the open.
The new development is that there are two rival groups, one headed by general secretary Lenaitasi Duru and the other led by vice-president Anare Jale, who was in charge of the SODELPA team in the negotiations for a coalition Government. Mr Duru has accused the coalition Government of not honouring the tripartite agreement signed by SODELPA, The People’s Alliance and the National Federation Party in the appointment of members to boards of Government entities and statutory organisations.
But Mr Jale has denied that SODELPA was concerned and that the party was satisfied all the processes were followed.
The clash is symptomatic of the differences that have plagued the party’s progress since 2014. The latest is serious because it could threaten the future of the coalition Government.
In the meantime, it is understood that one of the three deputy Prime Ministers, Viliame Gavoka, SODELPA’s party leader, has appealed to aggrieved members not to rock the boat and allow the new coalition Government to serve out its four-year term. Mr Gavoka himself is under the spotlight for losing the election.
In its worst election result, SODELPA retained only three of the 21 seats it won in the 2018 election. Mr Gavoka automatically loses his party leader role, the party constitution dictates.
But he acts as if he is still the leader.
Aseri Radrodro, the Minister for Education, is deputy leader and he should be acting party leader in the meantime before the party elects a new leader.
In retrospect, many members had wished that Mr Gavoka had not led the party in the 2022 election because he is the father-in-law of the former Attorney-General Aiyaz
Sayed-Khaiyum, the general secretary of the FijiFirst Party.
That was used by anti-SODELPA elements to drive people away from the party when the Opposition parties’ common enemy was the FijiFirst Party.
SODELPA’s woes are deeper than the Gavoka issue.
They relate to non-compliance of governance principles. Allegations have surfaced that the party’s negotiating team failed to report back to the working committee on its progress.
The committee would then report to the Management Board to ratify decisions that would be used by the negotiating team.
If it was true that the processes stipulated by the party constitution were not followed then it was not surprising because it was not the first time it had happened.
SODELPA’s woes are deeper than the Gavoka issue. They relate to non-compliance of governance principles. Allegations have surfaced that the party’s negotiating team failed to report back to the working committee on its progress.
Mr Duru tried to put the party on a new path with strict compliance of its governance provisions when he became general secretary.
But he has found it difficult and challenging.
He resigned but his resignation was not accepted.