Ro Teimumu Kepa rules out return to politics

After decades in national politics, Na Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa has ruled out any return to the political arena.
Ro Teimumu, who turned 80 last December, made the confirmation during an interview on the sidelines of the Rewa Provincial Council meeting in Lokia Village earlier this week.

"No way, I have no wish at all to stand in the elections," she said.

"I am also a member of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) which does not encourage any political involvement anyway."

Ro Teimumu, who resigned from the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) in 2024, said her role within the GCC was another reason she would not contest the next general election as she remained focused on her leadership responsibilities within her province.

While GCC members are not legally barred from standing in national elections, they cannot hold official political party affiliations. Chiefs wishing to contest an election must also step away from their partisan political roles.

"And also in the Constitution, those of us who are in forums like that, you know there's something there," she said.

She was referring to provisions in the 2013 Constitution requiring anyone holding, or acting in, a public office, including an appointed or employed member of a traditional body such as the GCC or its affiliated boards, to vacate that office before filing nomination papers for a general election.

Political career

Ro Teimumu's decision closes the chapter on a political career spanning more than two decades.

She entered Parliament in 1999 after being appointed to the Senate. Following the 2000 coup, she served as Minister for Women, Culture and Social Welfare in the interim government before winning the Rewa communal seat in the 2001 general election. She was later appointed Minister for Education.

She retained the Rewa seat in the 2006 general election and was reappointed Minister for Education, Youth and Sports.

In 2014, she was elected leader of SODELPA and led the party into the general election. After securing 49,485 votes—the second-highest total of any candidate—she became Leader of the Opposition.

She stepped down as SODELPA leader in 2016 but retained her parliamentary seat in the 2018 general election, receiving 6,036 votes, the second-highest tally among female candidates.

Ro Teimumu resigned from SODELPA in 2024.