Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Jioji Konrote is highly likely to be Fiji’s next President.
Konrote will be nominated by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama when Parliament sits this morning.
It should be an easy victory for him with government having the most number of seats in Parliament – 32 to be exact.
Since the first sitting in Parliament, government MP’s have always put in 100 per cent support when it comes to voting on any issue.
Section 83 of the 2013 Constitution says any person nominated for Presidency should not be a member of or hold any office in any political party.
This will require Konrote to give in his resignation to government prior to the official nomination.
When contacted yesterday, Konrote preferred not to speak about the resignation nor about the nomination.
With Konrote’s resignation, the next person in line to take up the now empty parliament seat is acting Military Commander Viliame Naupoto.
However, Naupoto told FBC News, he will not leave the RFMF.
He has had discussions with the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama over the issue and says, the PM agrees with his decision.
“I will not go into Parliament. I have decided to just stay out and help the RFMF at this time in whatever capacity I can serve RFMF in whether as Commander or any other posting. So I will be tendering my resignation from the FijiFirst Party to allow me to stay back.”
With Naupoto now backing off politics, it leaves the seat empty to be taken up by the next person in line – veteran journalist Matai Akauola.
Speaking to FBC News, Akauola says he has not made a decision at this point in time.
“I’d await the decision of the Party. It’ll be good to hear what the Leader has in regards to the set-up as he has made all the decisions,
for Konrote to be nominated for President. So, until we get to that stage, then we’ll see the direction and the decision that will be taken.”
Konrote will be up against Opposition Nominee Ratu Epeli Ganilau.
Ganilau was part of the interim government that was formed after the coup but after a year of being Minister for Defence he resigned after falling out with the government.
Parliament sits at 9.30am for the official handing in of the nominated names and the subsequent voting.
