AFTER hours of negotiations yesterday, the Social Democratic Liberal Party has finally chosen The People’s Alliance party and National Federation Party to go into coalition with to form the next government.
Speaking to the media outside Yue Lai Hotel in Suva last night, SODELPA head of negotiations team and vice-president, Anare Jale said it was not an easy decision to make. The negotiations team from the FijiFirst Party was led by its party leader and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. He was accompanied by FijiFirst Party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
“The management board has been meeting for two hours today (yesterday),” Mr Jale said.
He said they made the decision following presentations from FijiFirst Party, The People’s Alliance Party and National Federation Party.
“A secret ballot was conducted. There were about 30 members of the management board who voted.
“The decision was 14 voted for FijiFirst Party and 16 vote for The People’s Alliance Party.
“SODELPA will form a coalition with The People’s Alliance Party and National Federation Party to form a new government.
“We have finally came to a decision and it has not been a very easy decision, it took us few days to decide on the way forward for the party, especially the choice of who we are going to form a coalition with to form the next government. It was a huge responsibility for SODELPA and we are so grateful that the end has now come.” He said the decision was a tough one.
“The decision was taken into account with presentations made to the negotiating team of SODELPA which we have been receiving over the last three days.
“We analysed the presentations given, we went back to the management board to report to them.
The negotiation team of The People’s Alliance party was led by party leader Sitiveni Rabuka.
- Questions sent to FijiFirst party leader Voreqe Bainimarama and Mr Sayed-Khaiyum remain unanswered when this edition went to press.
