19 Nov 2018

Fiji's coup politicians should quit - Rabuka

1:39 pm on 19 November 2018

It is time for Fiji's coup leaders to step away from politics, Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader and instigator of the 1987 military coups Sitiveni Rabuka has said.

Fiji's SODELPA leader, Sitiveni Rabuka.

Fiji's SODELPA leader, Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins

Fiji's election, which gave another four year term to the FijiFirst party in results announced yesterday, was seen as a battle between two military strongmen vying for power.

The FijiFirst leader Frank Bainimarama also assumed power through a coup in 2006.

FijiFirst has a three seat majority after losing five seats to SODELPA.

It won 50.02 percent of the vote, and SODELPA nearly 40 percent.

Mr Rabuka said it was unfortunate the leaders of the two main parties were coup leaders.

"There needs to be a move away from coup profiled people," he said.

"And we will soon get there. Those of us involved in coups are getting old now and we are a passing generation.

"Very soon we will have a responsible younger generation of leaders taking over."