Sitiveni Rabuka becomes Fiji's new prime minister after days of uncertainty

Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji’s next prime minister after a coalition of parties voted to install him, signaling an end to Frank Bainimarama’s 16 years in power.

According to Press TV, the 74-year former military commander, who served as prime minister between 1992 and 1999 and staged two military coups in 1987, was nominated by secret vote, and won the election by one vote over incumbent Bainimarama’s 27 votes.

Bainimarama, who came to power in a 2006 coup, and his party FijiFirst initially refused to concede to the election results in the days following the polls. Finally he accepted his defeat as Rabuka made his way out of parliament.

While leaving parliament on Saturday, Rabuka told waiting media that he was humbled to have become the prime minister of Fiji before being rushed away to be sworn in by the country's president.

Rabuka is set to lead a coalition government that includes the National Federation Party and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).

His appointment has ended the ten days of uncertainty after an election delivered a hung parliament.

"We will work with everyone. We will work with the opposition, we will consult and we will work with our people," Biman Prasad, leader of the NFP and the new finance minister told reporters.

The military had been deployed on the streets of Suva as Rabuka and Bainimarama raced to cobble together a coalition government following a deadlocked general election.

ME