Minister for Lands Filimone Vosarogo has rejected calls by the Leader of the Opposition for the Prime Minister to step aside during the appeal period, challenging him instead to move a vote of no confidence on the floor of Parliament.
Mr Vosarogo said the Opposition leader had misrepresented the legal position, noting that no appeal has yet been filed.
“Even if the Prime Minister had indicated an intention, no appeal has been filed. It is within the appeal period and, as mentioned today in the media session, the Prime Minister is considering the advice he is being offered. So there is no such thing as an appeal on foot at the time of his media release.”
He stressed that the Prime Minister faces no criminal charge, saying comparisons drawn with former deputy prime ministers showed a misunderstanding of the law.
“Using the two former Deputy Prime Ministers as examples lacks simple understanding of the difference between criminal law and, in this case, public or administrative law. That understanding should be basic at Leader of Opposition level.”
Mr Vosarogo said the Opposition leader had no authority to demand that the Prime Minister step aside, pointing out that the Prime Minister enjoys full backing from Cabinet and the People’s Alliance Party.
“The Leader of Opposition should accept that, generally, he is in no position to call for the Prime Minister to step aside. The Prime Minister has the full backing of Cabinet. He also has the full backing of the People’s Alliance Party.”
He said the only legitimate way to challenge the Prime Minister’s leadership was through parliamentary procedure.
“The only way he could make that call is by moving a motion of no confidence on the Prime Minister on the floor of Parliament. I challenge the Leader of Opposition to move that motion and see for himself the support that the Prime Minister has. He just needs to make sure that his own group vote with him.”
Mr Vosarogo also questioned the Opposition’s numbers in Parliament, arguing that their continued presence is protected by law despite the deregistration of the party under which they were elected.
“We know that their tenancy in Parliament is preserved by default. The law actually preserves their tenure despite the party that brought them in now being deregistered.”
He said that even a simple numerical assessment undermined the Opposition’s position.
“For argument’s sake, the maths can be entertaining. At best, 11 present members of Parliament are with him. They are losing more as the year drags on.”
Mr Vosarogo further criticised the Opposition leader’s electoral mandate.
“The Leader of Opposition had just over 1,000 votes — to be precise, 1,221. Hardly would that have brought himself to Parliament, let alone bring others under the D’Hondt system. He is demanding that the Prime Minister, who polled 77,748 votes, step aside.”
He concluded by questioning why the Opposition group should continue to enjoy parliamentary privileges.
“Why should the Leader of Opposition’s group continue to enjoy the passage and privilege that the two former leaders of FijiFirst provided them? Can we call on you to step aside, with your group, from Parliament? I am sure you don’t have the confidence of your former leaders, party or no party.”
