SODELPA hopes to field more women candidates in 2022

SODELPA Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says SODELPA hopes to field more women candidates and help them to get into Parliament in 2022.

He says while the target of 30% of women MPs has not yet been achieved, he believes more women are applying for and interested in being legislators.

Rabuka says he saw this in 2018 when chairing the SODELPA interview panel for election candidates.

He says he was pleasantly surprised to see a record number of women applicants compared to when he led the SVT in the 1990s and led it to win elections twice in 1992 and 1994.

Rabuka says the 19% of the women MPs achieved in 2018 put Fiji ahead of other Pacific countries, but we must still strive to involve more women in national leadership.

He says for SODELPA, they will continue to open the door for women candidates.

Rabuka is hopeful more women will apply for a SODELPA ticket in 2022.

He says he hoped for more in 2018, but only a small number put their hands up - they were very impressive and four made it into Parliament.