Former coup leaders Sitiveni Rabuka and Voreqe Bainimarama, the incumbent prime minister, square off in Fiji election
- Given the history of coups, political stability has been a major issue leading up to the election, as have racial tensions and economic issues
- Fiji has not allowed the political tensions to affect its vital tourism industry, which promotes the Pacific nation’s beaches and friendly, welcoming people
Two men who led different military coups in Fiji will battle for control of the island nation in a general election on Wednesday.
Opinion polls indicate Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is poised to win a second term, four years after he first held democratic elections in 2014 and eight years after seizing power in a coup.
His main opponent is Sitiveni Rabuka, who led two military coups in the 1980s before serving for seven years as prime minister. Just this week, a judge cleared Rabuka of an electoral disclosure violation in a case many viewed as being politically motivated.
Fiji has not allowed the political tensions to affect its vital tourism industry, which promotes the Pacific nation’s pristine, sunny beaches and friendly, welcoming people.
We’re bound to have another coup if he doesn’t win
Given the history of coups, political stability has been a big issue leading up to the election, as have racial tensions and economic issues.