BAINIMARAMA SAYS BROKEN ELECTIONS PROMISE THE RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM PNG AND TONGA

Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has opened himself up to some rare and lengthy questioning by the local media.

Prime Minister Bainimarama was interviewed by several journalists on the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation's For The Record program.

In a wide-ranging discussion he revealed he only promised to hold elections in 2009 because of pressure from the Prime Ministers of Tonga and Papua New Guinea. He later reneged on the promise.

The PM says Fiji is now ready for elections in September, the fist poll since he took power in a military coup in 2006.

Here's a sample of what he had to say, beginning with his belief that the Constitution his government put in place last year will prevent coups from happening in the future.

Speaker: Frank Bainimarama, Fiji Interim Prime Minister

BAINIMARAMA: I can bet you my bottom dollar, that the 2013 Constitution will protect everyone. They'll be no repetition of 2000 and 2006, especially 2006, and that was what we've been talking about throughout the military at least eh, that 2006 was to end all coups.

REPORTER : So even if you will lose the election, there will no coup or anything like that? In the unlikely event, that you lose the election, what do you think would happen after?

BAINIMARAMA: The unlikely event, that I will lose the election, a new political party will led our nation.

REPORTER: How soon is Fiji First going to launch its manifesto?

BAINIMARAMA: Oh, in a couple of weeks. Don't worry about that.

REPORTER: Since 2006, you have governed without any Opposition. Now you are going to go into an election. Are you prepared to have an Opposition questioning you, asking questions, opposing you, in Parliament and outside of Parliament?

BAINIMARAMA: That's what a democratic parliament is all about.

REPORTER: Democracy, a democratic parliament all well and good, but you haven't had the experience of having an Opposition sitting across from you and trying to shoot down any policy or strategies you come up with. How do you think you'll manage with that, after bearing in mind, after so many years of your government without a parliament, without Opposition, this is something new for you even?

BAINIMARAMA: Ah, no, I don't think it's new. I've been having the same Opposition from 2000.

REPORTER: Yeah, but they did not have the power to change anything?

BAINIMARAMA: The Opposition is still there and that's what I'm going to face in parliament, there's no difference.

REPORTER: So you're saying they won't be able to stop your government if you get into parliament?

BAINIMARAMA: Stop my government in what?

REPORTER: In anything you want to do. All this Opposition over the years, there has been Opposition, but you and your administration have carried forward with the work the project and the development that you've seen important. Are you here in now parliament, there maybe a situation where they can vote against your decision?

BAINIMARAMA: Yes, that should be accommodated because it's part of the parliamentary process.

REPORTER; Are you saying there will be no difference, it will be business as usual, like you're carrying now, even with an Opposition there?

BAINIMARAMA: Well, we hope that we're going to continue with, if we win, well will win and we hope we will continue with the policies that we have, to do with infrastructure, to do with development in our economy. If Opposition is going to go against that well they will have to face the public of Fiji.

REPORTER: Yeah. One of the strengths that you have is to be able to make proper decision on matters of national importance, development and that's one of the things that people are talking about, the efficient quick delivery of your policies.

After the election, it will go through the process of parliament, which means there will be a lot of questions asked, you'll go through that bureaucracy. Yes, you think that will be a problem?

BAINIMARAMA: Well, as I said, that should not be a problem, because it's part of the parliamentary process, eh, it's democracy that we've been craving for, but that's also one of the reasons that a lot of people, a lot of people in Fiji don't want this election, yeah. They want a strong, decisive leader.

REPORTER: Back in the day, in the initial stage of the clean up campaign, you had said that neither you, nor anyone in your government would stand for election, why the change?

BAINIMARAMA: Things have gone under us, things have moved on. When we talked then, we was talking about having, forming a government there and then and having the election there and then. But at the back of our mind, we have to put in a good Constitution, that has changed the ball game altogether for everyone in Fiji. So you're not going to let me go, just because of that statement in 2006.

REPORTER: That's why I asked? I mean what changed your mind, what was the deciding factor for you, because at that point in time, you were very adamant about it?

BAINIMARAMA: This, putting this together, a lot of people, as I said, a lot of people don't know the years between 2000 and 2006 and ongoing from there to now. A lot of people don't know that when I said we were going to have elections in 2009, I said we will have election in 2009, if we're ready by then. That was a pressure put on me by the Tongan Prime Minister and the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister then in Tonga.

REPORTER: Did they give you the deadline?

BAINIMARAMA: No, they asked me to make a comment and say that we will have election in 2009 and I told them, I can't make that promise, because we are not ready for 2009 election and they said, just make it.

REPORTER: Just to get the pressure of your back?

BAINIMARAMA: Yeah, just to get the pressure, so I made that statement, but I said, if you look at that statement it said if and when we're ready, we'll have the election in 2009. And ready means this.

Picture: Fiji Embassy

Source. Radio Australia