COVID-19 not Doing any Favour to all Political Parties in Preparation for 2022 Election
COVID-19 is not only the FijiFirst Government’s worst nightmare.
It is also problematic to Opposition political parties. Restrictions to travel, movements or mass gathering make it difficult for parties to carry out their campaigns the conventional way through talanoa sessions.
Politicians would have to innovate to be able to reach their target audience.
One commonly used medium is online via social media and Facebook.
Mainstream media like the two national newspapers, radio and television keep people informed.
In places where they are not available or there is no connectivity, politicians struggle.
If the current situation persists to next year, God forbid, then it’s going to be more difficult.
The worst situation is to postpone the election because the prevailing conditions are not conducive to holding a fair and credible election. Let’s hope it does not get to that point.
Struggling SODELPA
The main Opposition party, SODELPA, is struggling to overcome a split between the two factions – the moderates and the conservative right wing.
The moderates-controlled SODELPA is moving ahead with the appointment of a campaign manager. It has adopted the idea that the right wingers either join it or leave the party. The hope for a reconciliation had evaporated some time ago.
So, we could see two parties standing for the same ideologies in the election.
Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday lodged his application to register his proposed new party. So, the stage is set for a battle royale between the two
SODELPAs.
The recent outbursts by rebel MP
Mosese Bulitavu against the party have been seen by some party members as a prelude to the lodgement of the proposed new party registration application.
They are claiming it’s part of a plot to cause maximum damage for the party before the defections to Mr
Rabuka’s new proposed party begin. As a right winger, Mr Bulitavu is expected to be expelled from SODELPA soon for defying the party’s collective position on the Budget and Bill 17.
His support of the Government, some members believe, was a smokescreen. He will not join FijiFirst, but most likely Mr Rabuka’s proposed new party. His attack on SODELPA was designed to create an impression of a party in disarray. His pending expulsion, now a foregone conclusion, is expected to trigger a flurry of movements to Mr Rabuka’s camp.
For the right-wing MPs their decision will be based on two options:
1) They can quit now so they can focus on the proposed new party which means they will lose their $50,000 a year salary;
2) They stick around and cause more headache for SODELPA, continue to draw their parliamentary salary, and face the risks of being expelled.
It is understood the SODELPA leadership would prefer the right wingers to take the first option.