A sex scandal involving allegations of extramarital affairs between two ministers, leaks of intimate images during ministerial visits and suggestions of drug use has rocked Fiji, rattling the government and raising questions about whether the coalition can survive. ing.
The conservative Pacific nation of about 1 million people is riveted by a story centered on an alleged affair between Women’s Minister Linda Tabuya and former Education Minister Aseri Radlodlo, a married man. Mr Radlodlo was also the son-in-law of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Discussion about the allegations has flooded social media in recent weeks, with some Fijians calling for his resignation and others calling for accountability and explanations from the coalition, which has been in power for just over a year. .
Dr Tess Newton-Cain, head of the Griffith Asia Institute’s Pacific base, said: “The shine of the ‘new’ has faded and people are paying more attention to what governments are doing and how they are acting. ” he says.
“This also extends to the way ministers behave.”
Both ministers deny the alleged romantic relationship, which took place during a ministerial delegation’s visit to Melbourne, Australia, in August 2023.
Screenshots of intimate images, messages and suggestions of drug use allegedly shared between ministers on the messaging platform Viber were posted online earlier this month. Tabya, a lawyer and former beauty queen, said the indecent images were “fabricated” and the screenshots were “fake”. Radlodlo said he had not seen the screenshots and declined to comment. Rabuka was embroiled in scandal and faced calls for his opinion on the issue.
The authenticity of the images and screenshots is unknown, but Tabuya has filed a complaint with Fijian authorities asking for the photos to be removed from the online site. Last week, Fiji Police Acting Commissioner Juki Fong Chiu said police were working with Australian police to investigate the minister’s accusations.
How did the scandal unfold?
The allegations first came to light in September 2023 after images and screenshots were published online. At the time, Rabuka said he was satisfied with the assurances from both ministers that there was no truth to the allegations.
The scandal resurfaced in January when intimate photos resurfaced on social media. Public interest intensified and discussion about the incident, and what it meant for Rabuka’s future, spread across Fiji. The Prime Minister has not commented on the matter this year.
Then in January, Mr Radlodlo became embroiled in another political drama.
On 22 January, Prime Minister Rabuka dismissed Mr Radlodlo from his cabinet portfolio for insubordination and insubordination in relation to his appointment to the Fiji National Universities Council in May 2023.
Radlodlo publicly apologized for the insubordination the next day, saying the issue was a matter of miscommunication. He asked Mr. Rabuka to cancel his dismissal, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Days after Radlodlo’s dismissal, Tabya, deputy leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), confirmed to local media that she was the subject of an internal investigation after a PAP member had filed a complaint against her. It is not clear what the complaint is about. The investigation by Fiji’s majority PAP is expected to conclude by February, and Tabuya could be removed from parliament.
The Guardian has contacted Radlodlo, Tabya and Rabuka for comment.
What could happen next?
The political upheaval that followed the sex scandal scandal and Radlodlo’s dismissal from cabinet threatens the stability of the coalition government.
Mr Radlodlo is a member of the Social Democratic and Liberal Party (Sodelpa). The party was furious at his dismissal and called on Rabuka to resign as prime minister. Soderpa officials also threatened to join the opposition Fiji First party, which has been in power for the past 16 years under the leadership of Frank Bainimarama.
Newton Cain said the episode highlighted the coalition’s dependence on Soderpa, which has just three seats. He said if Mr Soderpa transferred allegiance to Fiji First, it could lead to the end of the coalition government and a change of government.
United Fiji Party leader Sabenaca Narube said the fate of the coalition government would be decided by “leadership”. Narube, who is also a former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor, said many Fijians were hopeful that the coalition government would weather the turmoil.
“The survival of the coalition government depends on leadership, consistent leadership, decisive leadership, principled leadership,” Narube said.
