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.

The 74-year former military commander, who served as prime minister between 1992 and 1999 and staged two military coups in 1987, was voted in by secret ballot, and won the nomination 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).

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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.

In a press conference earlier this month, SODELPA's leader said he wanted Fiji's foreign relations to be closely aligned with Australia, New Zealand and some members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated Rabuka on his appointment and said her country looked forward to working with Fiji’s new government to strengthen “our very warm relationship”.

“We strongly value Fiji as a close friend and partner as we progress our shared priorities for the region," Ardern said.

In turn, Anthony Albanese, Australia's prime minister, added in a tweet that he also looked forward to working with Rabuka.

As one of the most populous and prosperous Pacific island nations, Fiji has been pivotal in the strategically located South Pacific's response to increasing competition for influence between China and the US, and Rabuka has said he favors Western-style democracy.

The south pacific island country has a history of military coups, as there have been four military coups over the past 35 years, and has witnessed tense race relations between its indigenous majority and a sizable ethnic Indian minority.

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