Opposition claims of an election budget has been quashed by the Minister of Economy and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the 2018/19 budget is family focused and yet some opposition members are using it to sensationalize issues.

However, after the budget announcement, claims of a vote buying budget came pouring in from SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka and Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa.

“Rabuka – I see it as the Minister of Economy embracing Fiji with one hand and holding a dagger on the other.”

“Kepa – It is an election budget and we have to look at what it really means for the people on the ground.”

Sayed-Khaiyum says these comments made by opposition members regarding the budget shows that they are politically desperate.

“So they are clutching their straws trying to pick at things and frankly it’s a desperation and i think politically they are very desperate.”

According to Fiji Times, NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad said that the budget was a desperate attempt by government to lure the interest of the people.

However Sayed-Khaiyum says Prasad is always politicizing issues.

“You see he does not know what he is talking about also, last year he said it was an election budget, this year he said it’s an election budget, the fact is these people aren’t able to extricate themselves from Politics.”

Despite critics from opposition members about the budget, the Minister for Economy has stated that the Fijifirst government will continue to deliver what matters for all Fijians.