11 Jan 2017

New political group expects some Fiji First MPs to join

4:13 pm on 11 January 2017

A group working towards becoming Fiji's newest political party says it has the support of many seasoned politicians including the governing Fiji First party.

Youth activist Pita Waqavonvono and a former opposition leader Mick Beddoes have announced plans to register the HOPE party and fight the next elections due in 2018.

Pita Waqavonovono

Pita Waqavonovono Photo: Supplied

He said some members of Fiji First have begun to sway and are moving towards the new grouping and many of Fiji's most seasoned and progressive political figures will come out and pledge their support.

"A lot of these seasoned politicians they've accepted the fact that they feel that maybe the voters might not want to vote for them so what they've decided to do is be part of an advisory group which backs this particular movement that we're creating," he said.

"They also agreed to support a lot of young faces who are going to stand in the next elections."

Mr Waqavonovono said there won't be a problem collecting the 5,000 signatures required for registration.

"The problem will be in registering the party formally after all the objections and all have been met."

"You can expect a lot of different things out of the people coming forward. They are all young. Most of them are also activists. A lot of people that are not interested in the money."