As Grubsheet predicted earlier today, the Prime Minister has stirred up a hornet’s nest with the announcement of a parliamentary vote and a referendum that would deliver a new constitution by December 24.
The first and most provocative criticism has come not from one of the political parties but from Nilesh Lal – the respected head of Fiji’s most influential think tank – the independent Centre for Democracy and Dialogue, formerly known as Dialogue Fiji.
He calls it an “autogolpe” – the Spanish term for a self coup in which a legal leader seizes absolute power. Which is bound to resonate with those who remember Rabuka’s two coups in 1987, 38 years ago.
Lal can barely contain his fury at what he casts as a crude and cynical power grab by Rabuka to stay in power beyond his scheduled four-year term, which is supposed to end with an election by the end of the first week of February.
That is clearly no longer going to happen if the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the People’s Alliance get their way. Yet incredibly, the notion of the election not proceeding is also stirring up opposition from elements within SODELPA, the NFP and other political parties for whom a delayed poll is simply unacceptable. Yes, you read that right. SODELPA included.
They want to go to the people on time in their own interests and are not in the business of keeping Sitiveni Rabuka in power for a minute longer than they have to. All of which means that the People’s Alliance may find itself with a much harder task than it expects to get the two-thirds of MPs in the parliament to vote for its plan.
As Grubsheet understands it, Rabuka’s Coalition partner, Biman Prasad of the NFP, is telling people that all four of its remaining members in the parliament following the death of Agni Deo Singh – including Pio Tikoduadua and Lenora Qereqeretabua – are rock solid in their opposition to the Rabuka plan and will vote against it.
The same is said to be the position of the official Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, who is evidently telling people that all members of the Opposition will also be voting “no”.
But what is really intriguing is the prospect of SODELPA doing the same – not because it opposes changes to the 2013 Constitution such as enshrining the power of the chiefs in the supreme law but because SODELPA is anxious to go to the polls and doesn’t want to see Rabuka remain in power if the election is delayed.
So is a miracle possible when there has been a general assumption among many members of the minorities that all is lost? Is there now a chance that Rabuka won’t get the two-thirds vote he needs for a referendum to even proceed, let alone secure a new constitution by Christmas?
Grubsheet personally thought the battle was lost. But we are assured that it is not over yet. In fact, such is the disillusionment with his leadership, we are told that it is now entirely possible that Rabuka suffers a humiliating defeat.
This story is building momentum and we’re told to expect a lot more opposition to emerge in the coming days. But here are just two of the public statements so far – from Nilesh Lal on behalf of the CDD and the Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry.
First the Centre for Democracy and Dialogue, which accuses the Prime Minister of trying to throttle democracy in a crude lunge to stay in power.
And now the statement from Mahendra Chaudhry, who equally provocatively questions whether the Prime Minister has “lost it” with his “indecisiveness” and “political paralysis”.
More reaction in the coming hours.
NOTE TO READERS: To be read in conjunction with our original article published early this morning.
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