Opposition MP Praveen Bala has dismissed the 2025–2026 National Budget as a “lollipop budget” claiming it is a short-term sweetener timed to suit election year, not a solution to Fiji’s long-term challenges.
“This is not a people’s Budget, this is a lollipop budget, a sweetener served just in time for election year,” Mr Bala told Parliament during the Budget debate yesterday.
“It has just small handouts packaged as progress,” he said. “The public’s response is telling.
“Fijians are no longer satisfied with lollipops. They want food on the table. They want action.”
Taking aim at rising living costs, Mr Bala referenced a campaign promise on food prices.
“Take, for instance, the much-promised $5 lamb chops. Today, they sit at $23.50.
“Perhaps the Minister can offer a rebate to importers to reduce the price. If not, maybe he’ll offer another promise in next year’s budget, a budget that sprinkles relief just enough to generate headlines, but never enough to fix what’s broken.”
He labelled the budget “a sugar rush”.
“Reckless in its spending, shallow in its planning, and politically poisoned.
“It dangles cash today but sacrifices stability tomorrow. The government is selling our children’s future to buy votes today — turning the Treasury into a campaign war chest.
“They say they’re tackling the cost of living, but families still choose between food and medicine. They claim record health funding, but nurses continue to beg for basic resources.
“They say they care for seniors, but pensioners are forced to sell belongings to survive.
“This isn’t governance. It’s gambling – with Fiji’s future and with people’s lives.”
