An announcement on the presidency is expected after this week’s cabinet meeting, although no candidates have officially been named.
Steven Ratuva said Commodore Frank Bainimarama may take over the position, and reconfigure the political system so that the Fiji presidency has the power of a U.S. president.
But the political sociologist from the University of Auckland’s Centre for Pacific Studies says the acting president, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, is also a leading contender.
“He was an ambassador to London, he was a minister of foreign affairs and he was also commander of the military forces, and he’s also high chief, he is actually the uncle of the king of Tonga. So he’s got everything in terms of traditional status, as well as professional qualifications.”
Ratuva sad the appointment of the president by the cabinet, shows how the influence of the chiefs has been limited to the villages and provinces.
