The Fiji electoral commission has ordered a recount in the Laucala Open seat because the winning margin was below the required minimum of half a percent of votes.
The seat had been won by 17 votes by Losena Salabula of the SDL, whose leader, Laisenia Qarase, has already claimed overall victory.
Walter Zweifel reports.
"The recount will delay the declaration of the final result until tomorrow when Mr Qarase plans to meet his caucus to put in place a new government. He says he expects to have up to 38 of parliament's 71 members on his side. Mr Qarase has told local radio FM 96 that this includes the two independents. The two new members are also being wooed by the Fiji Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, who has refused to concede defeat. One of the independents, George Konrote, who is from the Polynesian island of Rotuma in Fiji's north, has said he will go with the government of the day. He has also told the Rotuman language programme of Radio Fiji that he will side with the party of most benefit to the Rotumans while pursuing efforts to improve relations with indigenous Fijians."
