Fiji's Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), one of the opposition parties, re-decided on Friday to work with the People's Alliance (PA) and its partner, the National Federation Party (NFP), to form a coalition government for the next four years.

According to the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC), in a secret voting during a SODELPA Management Board meeting Friday evening, 13 votes went in favor of the PA and the NFP while 12 votes were for the FijiFirst party (FFP) led by incumbent Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

The SODELPA is now working on a coalition agreement which will have details of all the talks the party has had with the PA and the NFP.

The SODELPA hopes to conclude all discussions and sign a deal by next Wednesday.

Friday's voting came following the SODELPA Secreatry General Lenaitasi Duru claimed that Tuesday's decision to work with the PA and the NFP to form a coalition government was null and void due to non-active members attending the voting.

In this year's general elections, which were held last Wednesday, the FFP gained 26 seats, the PA won 21 seats, its partner NFP secured five seats and the SODELPA had three seats.

Under Fiji's electoral system, a party can form a government if they win 28 seats or more in the 55-member parliament. The FFP had been in power since 2014, but this time the party has failed to secure the majority of seats in the parliament.

The PA and the NFP have already formed a pre-election coalition. The new coalition government will thus have 29 seats in parliament.

(Cover: Workers and supporters of People's Alliance Party celebrate at the party's head office after the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) confirms their support to form a new government in Suva on December 20, 2022. /CFP)