Fijians have a lot to learn from the US election that leaders can only be replaced and elected through ballot in a democratic country, says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
Now that the people have spoken, he said, the newly elected US president Joe Biden should be respected.
Mr Biden was elected the 46th president of the US making Donald Trump a one-term president in the White House.
“I want to congratulate Mr Biden for the victory, the US people have spoken,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“Biden is a democratically elected president and we should respect that.
“This is the kind of election that should be happening in any democratic State, Fijians should learn from this, that leaders can only be replaced and elected through ballot.”
NFP leader Prof Biman Prasad said they welcomed the election of Mr Biden to the US presidency.
As a progressive party, he said they supported Mr Biden’s agenda to respond aggressively to climate change, declining standards of democracy and autocratic rule and return the US to participation in international organisations focused on solving world’s problems.
He said Mr Biden’s victory was a rejection of the dark and divisive leadership of the past four years.
“It is a victory for the leadership values of caring, inclusiveness and consultation,” Prof Prasad said.
“Mr Biden has a strong record of working with his political opponents for the betterment of his country.
“We in Fiji should reflect on why so many Americans voted for Mr Biden and the leadership values he represents.”
PM Voreqe Bainimarama congratulated Mr Biden on his social media accounts.
“Together, we have a planet to save from a climate emergency and global economy to build back better from COVID-19,” he posted.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Sitiveni Rabuka said he was a staunch Trump supporter.
“I personally support Trump,” Mr Rabuka said.
“So I will wait until all avenues are exhausted and victory confirmed before I react.”
He said he supported Mr Trump’s ideologies.
“He (Trump) is my friend and I supported him in the last elections, although I am not a US voter and he supports Israel.”
