Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka may face the axe from the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) for not comply ing with a directive of its management board (MB).

If this happens, he is likely to lose his seat in Parliament, including his ministerial portfolios.

Yesterday outside Parliament, Mr Gavoka said he couldn’t comply with the management board directive because he didn’t have the power to do so.

On Monday, a letter from the party with the Subject: Directive from the Management Board was delivered to Mr Gavoka.

The letter was signed by SODELPA’s management board chairperson Ratu Filimoni Soqeta, president Ratu Manoa Roragaca, vice presidents Roko Apenito Kolikata and Sitiveni Loloa, and general secretary c.

Paragraph two stated: “The Management Board, having convened and deliberated on the matter on 12 April 2024, hereby directs you to relinquish the position of Minister of Education and facilitate the reinstatement of Hon. Aseri Radrodro to this role.”

Backbencher Aseri Radrodro, in Suva on January 24, 2024. Photo: Leon Lord

Mr Radrodro was dismissed from Cabinet on January 22, 2024, for insubordination and disobedience to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s directive.

This was related to Fiji National University’s dismissal of council members.

Mr Gavoka has until today to comply.

“We expect compliance no later than April 17, 2024. Failure to comply will invoke the disciplinary procedures as outlined in Section 26.0 of the party constitution, which may include actions up to and including suspension or expulsion from the party roles,” the letter stated.

Mr Gavoka said the letter and the decision by the Management Board was “unusual”.

“The last thing the party wants to do is to be branded as desperate,” he said.

“This is surprising, and our image needs to be protected and not to be behaving in this manner. We are very much part of this Government today.

He is urging the party’s management board to act with wisdom and maturity.

“I will be replying to the letter today and we will take it from there,” Mr Gavoka said.

“Nowhere in a democracy where you ask a minister to relinquish, and it belongs to the Prime Minister, and he gave it to me.

“We can’t force the Prime Minister to just give it to anyone else because it is his call.

“In this case, I am one of the Deputy Prime Minister and his Minister for Education, Civil Aviation and Tourism and that is because of the confidence he has in me.

“That is fundamental in the way we govern ourselves.”

Commentators’ view

But political commentators were quick to point out that Mr Gavoka, the Minister for i Taukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu, and now lone backbencher Mr Radrodro, were endorsed by the SODELPA Management Board to be part of the Coalition Government.

The Coalition Agreement was also included in that endorsement.

Whether Mr Gavoka’s likely suspension or expulsion will result in SODELPA crossing the floor was ruled out by its general secretary, Viliame Takayawa.

The SODELPA constitution in 17.0

(b) outline that:

“Any Member of Parliament who crosses the floor or opposes the Party’s agreed or expressed position on an issue in Parliament and who does not resign from the Party as a result of his/ her actions shall be expelled from the Party by a decision of the Management Board.”

The Fijian Elections Office, through the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, will have the final say of Mr Gavoka’s status.

Under Section 15 (5) Resignation from Political Party states:

“A member of a political party may only be expelled from that political party if the member has infringed the constitution of the political party and after the member has been afforded a fair opportunity to be heard in accordance with the internal party disputes, resolutions mechanisms as prescribed in the constitution of the political party.”

Meanwhile, Mr Rabuka has stood by Mr Gavoka.

He said the removal of Mr Radrodro as Minister for Education was in exercise of the constitutional prerogative of the Prime Minister.

“The Social Democratic Liberal Party Board does not have a say,” the PM said.

“The D PM Gavoka will remain as Education Minister.”

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