Ahead of the 2014 elections, leaders of Fiji’s two rival political parties, namely the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) and the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewe (SDL) ni Vanua Party are likely to join hands to contest the polls.
FLP and SDL were once the biggest political rivals, with the former representing Indians in the country and the latter representing other Fijians, according to a report by news agency Xinhua.
SDL party leader and former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase told media that his Party was willing to join FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry (also a former Prime Minister) and other political parties despite their past differences.
“I think it is a very good idea and the SDL party stands ready to enter into dialogue with FLP and possibly with other political parties and organisations that think alike,” he said.
“I it is important that we find some common grounds and fight the next election on those common grounds,” he added.
Mr Chaudhry said that despite deep differences in the past, there was nothing strange in uniting with rival political parties to salvage the country from “a government that suppresses the people through despotism.”
Read expert analysis of this issue by Subhash Appana under Fijilink.
