Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka appeared unfazed in his response to calls for him to step aside before the 2026 General Election.
He says unless ousted by a vote of no confidence, he’s not going anywhere.
He stressed that those who want to unseat him must follow the proper parliamentary process.
A political veteran with a history of both resignations and comebacks, Mr Rabuka insists that constitutional procedure, not speculation or party rumblings, must determine leadership.
He was responding to comments by the former vice-president of The People’s Alliance, Ro Naulu Mataitini, who suggested Mr Rabuka initiate a leadership transition before next year.
“If I have to step down as (Ro Naulu) Mataitini suggests, it would have to be through the processes which put me in the position I am currently in,” he said.
“That is, votes on the floor of Parliament expressing no confidence in me and Parliament subsequently, assuming a successful no-confidence vote against me, electing a successor Prime Minister.
“So, all Mataitini has to do is to get his supporters in Parliament to move a motion of no-confidence in me and have a nominee as successor, and I will respect the views of the MPs, as well as resign from my position as party leader of the People’s Alliance.”
Mr Rabuka also reminded critics of his political journey, which has been marked by multiple resignations and comebacks.
“For me, it is a very simple question of conditions or circumstances by which I came to be where I am.
“I stood for elections in 1992 and 1994 and got elected and became Prime Minister under the prevailing Constitution governing those elections.
“I resigned from Parliament after failing to secure a majority as per the Constitution of the day (1997 Constitution) and re-signed to take up the position of chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs when they elected me to be so.
“In 2018, I stood for elections and the SODELPA party elected me as party leader before those elections, thus I became Leader of Opposition.
“I resigned in 2020 when I lost the leadership post to the Hon Viliame Gavoka that year.”
Mr Rabuka then left SODELPA and formed the People’s Alliance (PA), which won 21 seats in the 2022 elections.
