The People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka will step down as Prime Minister if a vote of no-confidence in him in Parliament succeeds.
In an interview with The Fiji Times online news portal The Lens@177, Mr Rabuka said he would only step down if he received votes from his current Cabinet and the Opposition.
“At the moment in Parliament, we could have a group from within the party (to vote),” said Mr Rabuka.
“It could be one of the coalition partners deciding to en masse secede from the coalition, in which case I go, and it will depend on whether they will be able to form a coalition with the Opposition very quickly, otherwise I can recommend fresh elections.”
Mr Rabuka said there was a stipulated time in the Constitution that needed to be followed for this to happen.
“If we’re into that time, the Speaker says that he has received a vote-of-no-confidence.
“We let it be voted upon and if it’s successful, I am free to advise his excellency that I do not have the confidence of the House and I recommend so and so to take over from me or I recommend that we call elections.”
He said whether he decides on a new election, or a successor, would depend on the time and situation he would be in.
When asked if he would allow Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu to take over as PM, he said: “If he can get some of my current supporters to vote with him. Why not? They can move that”.
“I will not move out happily. I will fight my way out, but I will have to accept it.
“Fight in the sense that I have to convince the members of Parliament before the vote that, ‘better the devil you know than the devil you don’t’.”
