Voting begins in Fiji’s crucial election

• Fiji’s democracy is being tested in a high-stakes election.
• Frank Bainimarama’s party faces Sitiveni Rabuka’s coalition.
• This is Fiji’s third democratic election.

Fiji’s democracy is being tested in a high-stakes election.

Frank Bainimarama’s party faces Sitiveni Rabuka’s coalition in Wednesday’s election.

This is Fiji’s third democratic election since Bainimarama presented a new constitution in 2013.

Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party won elections in 2014 and 2018 but faces a “formidable” opposition from Rabuka’s alliance. Voters are concerned about the rising cost of living in a tourism-reliant economy hit hard by COVID-19.

Official data say 900,000 of the country’s residents live in poverty.

Third election cycle after 2013 constitution. At stake is whether Fijians want four more years of the previous eight under Frank Bainimarama or change, said William Waqavakatoga, a PhD candidate in politics and international relations at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

Waqavakatoga said Bainimarama faced a hard battle.

Cost of living, infrastructure, and a “bungled” COVID-19 reaction are key themes in Wednesday’s election.

Waqavakatoga also criticized the prime minister’s governance record, citing claims of political involvement at the University of the South Pacific and a contempt of court prosecution against well-known lawyer Richard Naidu. The lawyer pointed out that a judge wrote “injection” when he meant “injunction”

Naidu’s sentencing is in January.

Fiji voters fear a return to instability in a nation that has seen four coups in 35 years.

Indigenous Fijians feared losing political dominance to the economically dominant Indo-Fijians, who make up 35% of the country’s population and are descended from ethnic Indians brought in to labor in the sugarcane fields during British colonial-era.

Rabuka staged the first two power grabs in 1987 after Indo-Fijians won a general election. He introduced a constitution in 1990 enshrining Indigenous Fijians’ political dominance and became prime minister in 1992.

Bainimarama, who abolished the country’s race-based electoral system after his 2006 power grab, has played up Rabuka’s nationalist past this year. The 74-year-old opposition leader has reached out to Indo-Fijians at home and abroad and formed a coalition with the multi-racial National Federation Party.

Rabuka is trying to correct his history as prime minister, while Bainimarama says Rabuka led 1987 nationalists.

Waqavakatoga stated he utilized this to instill terror in the electorate.

This time, I think more people will be worried about economics than fear.

After Wednesday’s vote, observers say the military will be crucial.

Major General Jone Kalouniwai said his men will “honor the democratic process by honoring the decision”

In Suva, many claimed election tension was obvious.

Avinay Kumar, 26, told AFP that traditional and newer parties are battling.

Bainimarama, who voted in Suva, was requested to accept Wednesday’s results.

“Of sure,” he said, then demanded “better questions” from reporters.

Rabuka voted in Suva and claimed he was “feeling wonderful”

He questioned whether the PM would acknowledge defeat.

Rabuka conceded in 1999. “Hopefully he can. We can’t live or reign forever.

Results are expected within days after polls close at 6pm local time.

A global election observer group led by Australia, India, and Indonesia stated it had “complete access” to voting sites and had not noticed any registration or pre-polling violations.

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