10 Feb 2005

Fiji Labour Party and ruling SDL party both confident of winning next election

9:29 am on 10 February 2005

The Fiji Labour Party says it is confident of winning the next general election.

Its leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, has told Radio Legend that Fiji's constitution allows anyone to become prime minister and he will take up the position if Labour wins.

Mr Chaudhry says public opinion indicates Labour will win the election.

He says ethnic Indians have been living in the country for 125 years and should also be entitled to government.

The prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, is also confident of retaining leadership but he says it's anyone's game at this stage.

Mr Qarase says Fiji is still in a building mode and dramatic changes after the election will not be good.

But Mr Qarase says Fiji "is a democracy and whoever wins the general election takes the government."