Off the wire
• Australian state of Tasmania to proceed with plans for 'smoke-free generation'  • Xinhua China news advisory -- July 6  • Aussie fighter killed in Syria will be returned for burial: media  • Rio Olympics Main Press Center opens  • Canada's smartphone pioneer to stop making Classic model  • Tokyo shares down 3 pct on strong yen, Brexit concerns  • Across China: Xinjiang youth hostels welcome Silk Road travelers  • Commentary: Japan's wanton agenda setting at UN threatens world peace  • China's PLA back for New Zealand humanitarian exercise in Pacific  • Roundup: Aust'n Turnbull gov't a step closer to re-election as vote count continues  
You are here: 　 Home

New major opposition party leader no threat: Fijian PM

Xinhua, July 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

New major opposition party leader Sitiveni Rabuka poses no threat to the ruling FijiFirst party, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has said.

Bainimarama said outside parliament earlier this week that Rabuka is not a member of parliament but just a leader of a political party, leading local newspaper Fiji Sun reported Wednesday.

The prime minister was responding to a statement made by two opposition MPs in parliament challenging both party leaders to a public debate.

"Who is Rabuka? He is just a leader of a party; to me he is nothing but probably when he stands for elections then maybe that will be opportune time for him to come and have a debate with me," Bainimarama said.

Rabuka, leader of Fiji's 1987 coups and Fiji's former prime minister, was chosen last month as the party leader for the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).

Rabuka was elected as prime minister in 1992, serving as head of government until 1999. Endit