Marurai said his cabinet agreed last week to nominate Rasmussen even though his Penrhyn constituents were not keen on the idea, reports Cook Islands News.
“He has finally accepted the challenge to apply for the position and cabinet has endorsed that,” said Marurai.
He said despite the fact that the Penrhyn people don’t want to lose their MP, Rasmussen will be nominated.
If he gets the job, Rasmussen will have to give up his seat in parliament.
On the Forum position, the prime minister has revealed that the leaders of Samoa and Tuvalu have nominated candidates for the job and have asked for his support.
The new secretary general will be appointed at the Forum Leaders meeting in Niue next month.
Nominations are sent to the chair of the Forum and then to the 16 member states.
The secretary general is the most senior regional administrator and is appointed by and answerable directly to Forum leaders through their chair.
The Cook Islands PM strongly believes his government’s choice stands a good chance of getting the job despite the glowing record and experience of the Samoan nomination, Tuiloma Neroni Slade.
He has been the Samoan ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations.
Slade has also served as attorney general of Samoa and as a judge of the International Criminal Court.
