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Qarase sworn in Fiji Prime Minister

P. S. Suryanarayana

Seven Cabinet posts offered to Opposition Labour party

SINGAPORE: Laisenia Qarase was sworn in on Thursday as Fiji's Prime Minister for a second term following the general elections in the south Pacific nation.

Mr. Qarase was sworn in on the basis that he could command the support of at least 37 of the 71 members in the new Parliament.

Earlier, Mr. Qarase, in his capacity as the caretaker Prime Minister, had said his Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua party (SDL) would be able to form the government on the basis of "a marginal difference" of poll victory over the Fiji Labour Party (FLP).

As the poll results poured in, FLP deputy leader Poseci Bune said he would be "ready" to become the Prime Minister if his party secured a parliamentary majority.

Mr. Bune's comment followed FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry's statement that the issue of prime ministerial candidacy would be decided by a "caucus."

Given the close contest in the general election, the political equations between the majority of native Fijians and the large minority of ethnic Indians, now estimated at around 44 per cent, would require to be fine-tuned, according to regional diplomats and observers.

AP reports:

Mr. Qarase took his oath of office at Government House in the capital, Suva. Mr. Qarase said he also had secured written commitments of support from two independent lawmakers, which would give him a majority of 38 seats. ``I do command the respect, loyalty and support of a majority of members of the lower House of Representatives,'' Mr. Qarase said before the ceremony in the colonial-era mansion overlooking Suva harbour. He was sworn in by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

Mr. Qarase said he expects to swear in a new Cabinet on Monday and would offer seven Cabinet posts to the Labour Party, in line with the country's Constitution which says any party gaining more than 10 per cent of the vote should be offered Cabinet positions.

Three coups

The SDL will have 10 Cabinet posts and the two independent lawmakers each will also be in the Cabinet.

Fiji, a South Pacific nation of about 900,000 people spread over 110 inhabited islands 3,000 km northeast of Sydney, Australia, has been rocked by three coups since 1987 and there are fears the latest elections could trigger another.

Indigenous Fijians make up a small majority of the population but in recent years nationalists have become increasingly bitter at what they see as the disproportionate political and economic clout wielded by a minority of Fijians — such as Mr. Chaudhry — descended from Indians whose ancestors were imported by British colonialists to work in sugar cane plantations. — AGENCIES.

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