Opposition complains of irregularities and international observers note grant handouts by government as FijiFirst party wins 50.02% of votes

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Fiji’s prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, has held on to power in a general election, with his party winning a narrow majority.

The Pacific nation this week went to the polls for only the second time since Bainimarama seized control in a military coup in 2006.

A final count on Sunday put his FijiFirst party on 50.02% of the total vote, with the Social Democratic Liberal party, led by former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka, second on 39.85%. The National Federation party received 7.38%.

The outcome is expected to give FijiFirst a narrow but outright majority in the country’s 51-seat parliament and Bainimarama a second term but is significantly tighter than the last election in 2014 when the party won almost 60%.

Opposition members are considering challenging the result, local media have reported. While an interim Multinational Observer Group report has called the election process credible, a row broke out between opposition parties and electoral authorities over the weekend about the release of results, which have trickled in since the vote on Wednesday.

The Fijian Elections Office has strongly denied the claims of impropriety and rejected a call to halt counting after complaints by four party leaders they had been prevented from verifying results.

Separately, the observers noted government ministers had handed out government grants during campaigning.

“I’m proud to become your prime minister once again,” Bainimarama told FBC News from New Zealand where he was attending his brother’s funeral.

With a national history of military coups and two former military strongmen running – Rabuka himself led two coups in 1987 – police earlier talked down concerns about tension after the vote. The military – which holds significant power in the country’s constitution and has given Bainimarama its backing – said during the run-up that it would respect the vote.

Heavy rain dampened voter numbers on election day and authorities closed dozens of polling stations early because of flooding. Turnout in the country of more than 900,000 ranged from 53% to 61% across districts, the Elections Office earlier said.

Bainimarama campaigned on a continuation of strong economic growth, relative political stability and improved social services in Fiji, and was tipped as the favourite.

Critics, however, have branded the 64-year-old authoritarian. Rabuka was questioned by police the weekend before the election and was still facing legal challenges from the government only days out from the election.

Despite tourism-fuelled economic growth in recent years, poverty remains widespread in Fiji and opposition leaders promised to raise the minimum wage. Rabuka raised concerns about large debts owed by Fiji to China.

While Fiji’s government moved closer to China in response to Western sanctions following the 2006 coup, its relationship with Australia has grown significantly stronger in recent years.