Bainimarama sworn in for second term as Fiji PM
Suva: Incumbent Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was on Tuesday sworn in for a second term after his ruling FijiFirst party won this year’s general elections.
Bainimarama was sworn in by President Jioji Konrote in the presence of representatives and high officials of the executive, legislative and judicial arms of the government, reports Efe news.
According to the November 14 official election results, Bainimarama’s party received 50.02 per cent of the total vote, almost 10 per cent less than the 2014 polls, and secured 27 of the 51 seats in the parliament.
The opposition is headed by the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), which received 39.85 per cent votes and 21 seats, followed by the National Federation Party, which managed to retain its three seats with 7.38 per cent support.
According to reports, the SODELPA was planning to challenge the results in court, with its leader Sitiveni Rabuka alleging that they were neither genuine nor credible.
This is Fiji’s second general election since a military coup in 2006 and the last elections took place in 2014.