People's Alliance (Fiji)

The People's Alliance is a political party in Fiji. The party was formed in 2021 by Sitiveni Rabuka who served as Prime Minister of Fiji from 1992 to 1999 and again from December 2022.

People's Alliance
President	Vuniani Navuniuci
Leader	Sitiveni Rabuka
Deputy leaders	Lynda Tabuya Manoa Kamikamica Daniel Lobendahn
General Secretary	Usaia Waqatairewa[1]
Founded	12 August 2021
Registered	8 September 2021
Split from	SODELPA
Headquarters	74 Suva Street, Toorak, Suva
Youth wing	People's Alliance Youth
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Fijian nationalism
Political position	Centre-right[2]
Colours	Blue   White   Maroon
MPs in the Parliament of Fiji	21 / 55
Website
www.peoplesalliancefiji.com
Politics of Fiji Political parties Elections

Background

Sitiveni Rabuka served as the leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) from June 2016 until November 2020, where he was ousted in a leadership contest.^[3][4] He resigned as leader of the opposition that same year and subsequently left SODELPA to form a new party.^[5]

Formation

Founded by 11 members including Sitiveni Rabuka, the party was registered on 12 August 2021 and subsequently launched on 11 October 2021.^[6][7] On 9 April 2022, the party appointed Manoa Kamikamica as its Deputy Party Leader.^[8] Lynda Tabuya and Daniel Lobendahn were also appointed as deputy party leaders on 7 May 2022.^[9][10]

2022 election

The party ran 55 candidates in the 2022 Fijian general election.^[11][12] On 8 April 2022, the party signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Federation Party indicating an agreement to work together post-election.^[13] The People's Alliance gained 21 seats becoming the second largest party in Parliament. Its coalition partner NFP secured 5 seats. Both parties with their shared number of seats failed to secure a parliamentary majority.^[14] Ultimately, SODELPA chose the People's Alliance and its coalition partner and a three-party coalition government was formed.^[15][16]

Leadership

The party leader and deputy leaders are appointed by the People's Executive Council which serves as the governing body of the party.^[17] The party has three deputy leaders, in accordance with its constitution.^[18] Since the party's formation in 2021, Sitiveni Rabuka is the leader of the party. Serving as his deputy leaders are Manoa Kamikamica, Lynda Tabuya and Daniel Lobendahn.^[9]

Party leader

Portrait	Leader	Term began	Term ended	Time in office	Position	Prime Minister
	Sitiveni Rabuka (born 1948)	12 August 2021	Incumbent	3 years, 92 days	—		Bainimarama (2006–2022)
					Prime Minister 2022–present		himself

Deputy party leaders

Deputy leader	Term	Position
Manoa Kamikamica	2021–present	Deputy Prime Minister (2022-present)
		Minister for External Trade Cooperatives and SMEs (2022-present)
Lynda Tabuya	2021–present	Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation (2022-present)
Daniel Lobendahn	2021–present	—

Electoral history

Parliamentary elections

Election	Party leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Result
2022	Sitiveni Rabuka	168,581	35.82%	21 / 55	21	2nd	PAP-NFP-SODELPA coalition government

References

1. fijivillage (8 September 2023). "Waqatairewa is the new General Secretary of The People's Alliance". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
2. Frost, Natasha (20 December 2022). "In Fiji's Election, One Former Coup Leader Displaces Another". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
3. "Sitiveni Rabuka wins leadership of Fiji's SODELPA". RNZ. 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
4. Fijivillage (27 November 2020). "Gavoka will be next SODELPA Leader". www.fijivillage.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
5. "Rabuka's People's Alliance Registered As A Political Party". Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
6. "People's Alliance to focus on all Fijians". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
7. "People's Alliance announces founding members which include the Tui Nawaka and Ajay Amrit". Fijivillage. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
8. "Kamikamica is The People's Alliance deputy leader". FijiTimes. 9 April 2022. Archived from the original on 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
9. "Lynda Tabuya and Dan Lobendahn join Manoa Kamikamica as People's Alliance Deputy Party Leaders". Fijivillage. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
10. "Tabuya and Lobhendahn appointed deputy PA leaders". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
11. "'We will work alone'". FijiTimes. 25 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
12. "Rabuka: 55 candidates to contest next General Election". FijiTimes. 9 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
13. "NFP and People's Alliance sign MoU to work together post-2022 election". FijiTimes. 8 April 2022. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
14. "Final results out with no party securing more than 50 percent of the total votes in the 2022 general elections". Fijivillage. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
15. "The results are in - Fiji to get a coalition government". RNZ. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
16. "New chapter for Fiji - Rabuka to lead coalition". RNZ. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
17. "THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE CONSTITUTION" (PDF). People's Alliance. 2020. pp. 15–16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via Fijian Elections Office.
18. "THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE CONSTITUTION" (PDF). People's Alliance. 2020. p. 16. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via Fijian Elections Office.

External links

• Official website