Newly-elected Opposition Member of Parliament Anare Jale believes the six additional seats won by Social Democratic Liberal Party (SO­DELPA) in the 2018 General Elec­tion is a reflection of the shifting mind and hearts of the voting pop­ulation. SODELPA won 21 seats this month compared with 15 in the 2014 General Election.

A former senior civil servant and diplomat turned politician, Mr Jale congratulated outgoing SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka on his ap­pointment as Leader of Opposition as well as Speaker of Parliament Dr Jiko Luveni and Deputy Speak­er Veena Bhatnagar.

He shared the sentiments of Pres­ident Jioji Konrote when he said he was proud to see a record number of women in parliament and con­gratulated the 10 elected female parliamentarians.

“Our 21 per cent achievement of women in Parliament will be re­corded as a historical achievement in Fiji’s Voluntary National Review when we report on our SDG pro­gress to the United Nations in July of next year,” Mr Jale said.

He said women in 46 countries held more than 30 per cent of seats in national parliament in at least one chamber and Fiji was heading in that direction and should strive to achieve the same.

Mr Jale said his 36-year career in the civil service ended with his re­moval from office in 2006 while he was chief executive officer of the Public Service Commission and he was left unemployed.

Mr Jale said he was determined to contest the general election to con­tinue to serve the people of Fiji as a parliamentarian.

He acknowledged his supporters and his wife.