Melbourne : Sitiveni Rabuka was sworn in as Fiji’s prime minister on Saturday more than two decades after the former military commander first held the office in a term lasting nearly seven years.
The 74-year-old won the nomination by one vote over incumbent Frank Bainimarama at a sitting of the Fijian Parliament in Suva, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Rabuka, the head of the People’s Alliance Party, was elevated to the position after forming a majority coalition with two other parties following last week’s close and contentious election.
The tripartite coalition had announced on Tuesday its intention to form a government with a combined 29 seats compared to the 26 held by Bainimarama’s Fiji First Party.
The People’s Alliance Party and affiliated National Federation Party shared 26 seats but were able to form an alliance with the Social Democrat Liberal Party to break the deadlock.
Bainimarama, who served as Fiji’s prime minister for almost 16 years, and Fiji First had refused to concede the election results in the days following the polls.
A secret ballot of lawmakers on Saturday chose Rabuka 28-27. The result indicated that one member of the new ruling coalition was against the change in prime minister.
