SUVA (Pacnews) — Fiji’s ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase plans to stand in the next election if it is held within the next 24 months.
Speaking from Mavana village in the Lau Group where has been in exile since the military takeover; Qarase said he will decide on which seat to contest later.
“It is a top priority on my agenda to stand in the next election and I am looking forward to it,” he said.
Qarase said the Lau communal seat, which he won in the 2001 and 2006 elections, was a “safe” seat but he may consider a seat in the urban area.
“I will have to follow the procedure of applying for a seat with the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party and then contesting it,” he said.
“There is a process of selecting the leader of the party and I cannot say who would be appointed because we will all have to apply to stand first for the elections.”
He said he is looking forward to returning to Viti Levu if the emergency decree is lifted next month.
On a statement by the military that it did not want ousted politicians to stand in the next election, Qarase said the Constitution is clear on the issue.
“I believe the attorney general is a lawyer and the eligibility of a person standing in an election is stated clearly in the Constitution and I believe I am qualified to stand,” he said.
Military spokesman Maj. Neumi Leweni said it is Qarase’s prerogative to stand in the election.
“As far as we are concerned, there are a lot of things to be put in place before the election and a process to follow on the issue,” he said.