Fijians vote along racial lines

SUVA – Ballot-counting in Fiji’s elections passed the halfway mark yesterday, with voters polarised along racial lines and little separating the indigenous-dominated governing party and the Indian-dominated opposition.

Of the 37 seats announced by mid-evening, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase’s United Fiji Party (SDL) had won 18 seats – including his own – mainly in electorates reserved for indigenous voters. Similarly, opposition leader and former premier Mahendra Chaudhry’s Fijian Labour Party had won 15 seats reserved for ethnic Indians and another two open to voters of all races.Two other seats reserved for other ethnic minorities were won by a minor party allied to Labour and an independent linked to the SDL.One radio network with reporters at provincial counting centres said the SDL was leading with 23 seats to the Labour Party’s 20.The 71 seats in parliament are made up of 23 reserved for indigenous Fijians, 19 for Indo-Fijians, four for minority ethnic groups and 25 seats open to all ethnic groups.- Nampa-AFPSimilarly, opposition leader and former premier Mahendra Chaudhry’s Fijian Labour Party had won 15 seats reserved for ethnic Indians and another two open to voters of all races.Two other seats reserved for other ethnic minorities were won by a minor party allied to Labour and an independent linked to the SDL.One radio network with reporters at provincial counting centres said the SDL was leading with 23 seats to the Labour Party’s 20.The 71 seats in parliament are made up of 23 reserved for indigenous Fijians, 19 for Indo-Fijians, four for minority ethnic groups and 25 seats open to all ethnic groups.- Nampa-AFP