Aseri Radrodro is the new leader of Fiji's SODELPA party. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Kelvin Anthony
The main decision making board of Fiji's minor coalition partner - Sodelpa - has unanimously agreed to ask Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to reinstate sacked education minister Aseri Radrodro.
The dismissal of Radrodro, along with an alleged sex and drug scandal between him and the Women's Minister Lynda Tabuya, as well as a complaint filed with the anti-corruption commission against the Sodelpa leader and Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka for abuse of office, has rocked Fijian politics this week.
According to local media reports, 30 out of the 43 board members turned up for the meeting that wrapped up in Suva on Friday.
They discussed explanations given by Rabuka for reasons of Radrodro's dismissal last Friday relating to Fiji National University (FNU) Council appointments.
Gavoka said Sodelpa fully supports the the Rabuka-led coalition.
He said the Sodelpa board has approved a resolution to plead with the prime minister to reinstate Radrodro.
"We believe that a number of issues were not clear [relation to Radrodro's dismissal], that some communication could have been better, and that Radrodro has done exactly what was required of him by the Prime Minister and the charter of FNU."
Gavoka confirmed the resolution has been communicated to Rabuka "straight after the meeting".
He said the Sodelpa board has not set a timeframe for when they want an Radrodro reinstated.
"We know that the Prime Minister [Rabuka] has a big heart, and he will take this on, and we believe that he will do justice to the resolution that we passed today."
On Monday, a Sodelpa working committee had recommended talks with FijiFirst - the current opposition in Parliament - after the prime minsiter's decision to axe the Sodelpa MP.
But earlier today, Rabuka seemed unfazed with the threat, telling fijivillage.com that Sodelpa is free to go and join FijiFirst.
However, he said the party would have to first discontinue the existing coalition agreement with the People's Alliance and the National Federation Party.
"They are free to do that but first of all they will have to infrom the other two parties to breakaway, to ceed from the coalition agreement."