SUVA – Fiji Coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama declared himself the new Prime Minister of the Pacific nation this week and promised “genuine democracy” and to work for all Fijians.
Following the first democratic election in eight years, he pledged to govern “for the well-being of all Fijians”, saying the country had “embraced a new future” after a series of coups sparked by ethnic tensions that rocked the islands.
Although the final count from Wednesday’s election has not been released, provisional results showed Bainimarama’s Fiji First Party heading towards a clear victory.
“My fellow Fijians, as you know Fiji First has won the general elections and I will lead the new government to serve the nation,” he told thousands of cheering supporters gathered in a sports stadium.
“I give you my absolute promise that we will govern for the well-being of all Fijians,” Bainimarama said.
The 60-year-old Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless coup in December 2006 saying he needed to end widespread corruption and root out entrenched discrimination against ethnic Indians, who make up about 40% of the 900,000 population
