The power and the glory: Bainimarama claims victory in Fiji elections

Fiji coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama declared himself the Pacific nation’s new prime minister Sunday, four days after the country’s first democratic election in eight years. Although the final vote count has not been released, provisional results show Bainimarama’s Fiji First Party heading towards a clear victory. Bainimarama’s victory declaration came after the Fiji Electoral Office showed Fiji First with 59.1 percent support after votes had been counted at 88 percent of the polling booths. The Social Democratic Liberal Party was a distant second at 28.3 percent.

I am deeply honoured and humbled that the Fijian people have put their trust in me to lead them into our new and true democracy.

Incoming Fijian prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama

Although opposition parties have complained of voting irregularities, a multi-national observer group in Fiji to scrutinise the poll labelled it “credible” and representing the will of the people. 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 percent of the 900,000 population.

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