Bainimarama eclipsed his former images [1]
Thursday, September 18, 2014 - 15:51. Updated on Thursday, September 18, 2014 - 22:22.
Editor,
Bainimarama has steam rolled one and all to an emphatic victory and a win which may go down in history not to be beaten for another century; further putting closure and totally eclipsing any notion and thoughts of him as a dictator, military ruler or an unelected coup leader.
Not by a nose but a landslide, and a complete annihilation of all his opponents and even steam rolling all candidates, even his own FijiFirst mates.
People’s choice with a unanimous loud chorus and shout with over 70% approval rating, giving Bainimarama a win that will now close the mouths of one and all, both locally and internationally and Bainimarama will rule with a firm and decisive hand with folded arms, oozing with pride, legitimacy and confidence, watching his visions beyond 2014 take full shape and fruition, as he always envisaged in 2000 and 2006.
Bainimarama has not only won decisively the 2014 Fiji elections but will continue to be a three term PM of Fiji, with the first two terms till 2022 fully assured to him. Rarely has anyone in politics lasted only one term in government, even those marginally popular in Australia, New Zealand, USA and other democracies, as incumbency helps with any re-election chance, even for fairly unpopular figures.
He has managed to cut across the racial divide and put forth a campaign of Fiji’s urgent need of racial tolerance, a common name, equal citizenry, a non racial based election, one vote one value, and the need to work towards al all inclusive society.
This election was nothing more than a referendum in Fiji by the people of all these values articulated by Bainimarama and his vision for Fiji beyond 2014. We can now say that he has won an emphatic mandate for all these reforms and values by over 70% approval by the Fiji electorate.
He has put a nail in the coffin of all other parties, some sent out crashing to the dust bin of history, that in this day and age the people need a real alternative opposition which has values, aspirations and manifestos that offer a real alternative and ideology, if at all they can even be a threat to a Bainimarama’s people’s party FijiFirst.
Now with the kind of popularity, charisma, people-person, no-nonsense approach, deliver what you say and no mincing of words, that Bainimarama has displayed in Fiji, he will be more seasoned and oozing with pride and confidence and surely unstoppable in the 2018 elections. He will also most likely be re-elected in 2022 to rule Fiji till 2026, unless he decides to become the President of Fiji, and hand over leadership to some else at that time.
Three terms as PM under the 2013 Constitution will equate to 12 years and the last 8 years in power as PM of Fiji since 2006, will mean a total of 20 years service to Fiji as PM, surpassing Ratu Sir KKT Mara, to become the longest serving PM of Fiji in history.
Bainimarama will stabilize Fiji politics of the past, as he has the mandate, support and respect of the people and even the RFMF. Bainimarama has managed to cut across the Fiji racial divide, similar to Ratu Mara in the period 1970-1987. Further he is genuinely popular amongst both the iTaukei and non iTaukei and the younger voters, all of whom below the age of 30 voted for the first time in their life, with voting reduced to age 18 from 21, the teenagers have also had a say for the first time in Fiji elections.
My prediction at the end of full counting is a Bainimarama’s FijiFirst win by around 35 seats, SODOLPA 10 seats and a NFP, Labor, and PDP to gain around 3 to 5 seats. NFP Labour and PDP shortfall and change of fortune, is largely due to the huge drift towards FijiFirst. The power base of FijiFirst is not the former SDL supporters that much, but the former Labour and NFP supporters with now parts of the fractured former SDL supporters changing affinities towards FijiFirst. SODOLPA thus no longer commands full support of former SDL membership. Most of the military personnel and their families support the FijiFirst.
Bainimarama will now not need a coalition and will be able to rule with ease and carry on towards all the reforms that he has already started and with at least the next 2-3 terms assured, he will be able to make significant policy and direction inroads and cement changes in Fiji politics for ever. In 16 to 20 years of Bainimarama rule, all of his visions of Fiji beyond 2006 and now even his visions beyond 2014 will be fully realized.
Bainimarama will still have a robust opposition, to keep Fijians amused and Bainimarama’s Ministers on their toes, but Bainimarama will rule with a smile and confidence this time around being elected by the people and working for the people as their representative, by a resounding mandate.
Bainimarama will tweak policies and programs as the country moves forward. Any complaints of poverty and the high costs of living which have been on the lips of many people during this election will not be forgotten. I am hopeful that Bainimarama will show genuine concerns, and will go out of his way to align policies in order to solve this and other issues of concern, raised by the electorate during his election campaigns.
Congratulations to Bainimarama and his team and we wish them well in the first term in office in a democratically elected government.
Dr Sushil K Sharma
Former Associate Professor of Meteorology and Head of the Meteorology Department Fiji National University.
Lautoka, Fiji