Fiji's leader of opposition Inia Seruiratu, left, and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka shake hands after the Budget is passed on Thursday, 13 July 2023. Photo: Facebook.com/Parliament of the Republic of Fiji
A former cabinet minister and MP says "time will tell" where the deregistered FijiFirst party politicians' loyalties lie.
Premila Kumar, who was a central figure in the Bainimarama administration, told RNZ Pacific the interventions at this week's Budget debate in Parliament will paint a clearer picture of individual MPs political allegiances.
The former ruling party's demise, just over 18 months after it lost power, was prompted by some of its MPs voting in favour of a government bill for a significant pay rise, which consequently led to a their suspension.
The suspension was challenged in a complaint lodged by Mosese Bulitavu, a former FijiFirst MP and now an independent.
Bulitavu alleged that FijiFirst had breached its own constitution by not allowing its parliamentary leader, Inia Seruiratu, to participate in the party's Leadership Committee meetings.
The Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, deregistered the FijiFirst Party under section 12(4) of the Political Parties Act.
Mataiciwa noted that FijiFirst had no provision for an internal party dispute resolution - requirement under the political party laws.
She notified FijiFirst on 30 May to amend its constitution to include provisions required under Schedule 2 of the Act.
The party was given until 4pm on 28 June to make the necessary amendments. However, its founding members, including Bainimarama, resigned en masse, and it failed to amend its constitution, which resulted in its deregistration.
Kumar told RNZ Pacific the 26 FijiFirst MPs - who are now independents - are preparing a response to the Budget this week.
"Time will tell us and the only way we can test this out is in the Parliament to see how people respond to the Budget. That will indicate [who is] standing on which side," Kumar said.
"But we cannot say who will be an independent member and who will join another party."
Kumar said she would become an independent MP and remain in opposition.
"I will continue [to hold the] government accountable; I will continue to scrutinise the work they do for this country's people," she said.
When asked by RNZ Pacific whether FijiFirst will form a new political party with the same MPs, Kumar said they will have to come together to discuss all that.
Premila Kumar in Parliament. (file image) Photo: Fiji Parliament Media
Not the full picture - Beddoes
Former leader of the United Peoples Party and a former opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, said FijiFirst chose to take this path.
He said FijiFirst could quite easily have accommodated the constitutional requirements, filed it in time and made arrangements to settle the party's debts.
"I'm saying that what is occurring here, the sequence of events, I don't think what we're seeing is necessarily the total picture," Beddoes told RNZ Pacific.
"I already have heard commentary from some that there's likely to be between 10 or seven to 10 of [FijiFirst MPs] are going to remain. I'm not sure what the situation is of the others."
According to local media reports, nine FijiFirst MPs have pledged their support for prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka's coalition.
Fijian voters have told RNZ Pacific they the deregistration of Bainimarama's party is "fair", but they agree the nation still needs a strong opposition to keep government accountable.
One said: "I think the deregistration is fair because the party failed to comply. In terms of whether having an opposition is important or not, I think it's important. These are the voice of the people."
"If you look at FijiFirst they were quite strong. I think they pretty much did good. I think their opinions matter," added another.
Another one said: "[FijiFirst] could have done better with the logistics of the party and it is very important to have a opposition in order to keep the nation going and transparent."
Mick Beddoes. Photo: twitter
Beddoes said a critical part of any democracy is to have a strong opposition.
He said there is going to be a lot of horse trading, but he was totally opposed to the concept of a 'government of national unity', a proposal that has been floated by Rabuka himself.
"Governments of national unity have formed when there's a national crisis, when there's civil strife, when there's a war on. Then you bring all the parties together and you work together. There is no crisis right now."
"The implosion through their own mishandling of things is not a crisis, it's a failure of the political party."
