SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka says Unity Fiji poses a serious threat to his party.

While he welcomed the newest political party to join the 2018 General Election race, he saw Unity Fiji as a definite threat.

“They will take some votes away from us and probably some votes from FijiFirst, but we know they will be appealing to a lot of those in our blocks so they are a threat in that sense,” Mr Rabuka said.

Mr Rabuka confirmed that a list of SODELPA supporters had resigned to join Unity Fiji and the majority of them were from Kadavu.

He added that most of these former supporters from his party were the ones that assisted the Unity Fiji reach the 5000 signatures required to register as a political party. The new party achieved 9500 signatures.

Mr Rabuka was speaking after Unity Fiji held its first press conference in Suva yesterday. It’s leader, Savenaca Narube, announced they would contest all 51 seats.

“We have been talking with some ‘very big’ people who have showed their interest in standing for our party,” Mr Narube said.

He said they expected to release names of candidates soon.

His party would prefer to form ‘partnerships’ with other political parties rather than a coalition.

Mr Narube said they would only form a partnership with other parties if it was genuine, one that shared the similar philosophies, intentions and manifestos.

“I believe we are stronger together than a party. We will be very interested to explore partnership because legally we cannot form a coalition with other parties,” he added.

He said he planned to hold talks with other political parties as part of their plan.

National Federation Party leader, Biman Prasad said his party would contest the next elections on their own without any coalition or form of partnership.

“We will fight the 2018 General Election alone just like we did in 2014. I don’t want to comment on any other party,” he said.

Fiji United Freedom Party president, Jagath Karunaratne said it would be interesting to know the ideologies behind Unity Fiji and how it differed from other political parties.

Unity Fiji offices are based in Nadi (Western Division), Labasa (North) and Vunisea in Kadavu.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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