Fiji: Strongman Leading in Election Count

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/world/asia/fiji-strongman-leading-in-election-count.html

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Fiji’s military ruler for the past eight years appeared to be headed to a decisive victory after the nation voted in a landmark election on Wednesday. With votes from 60 percent of polling stations counted, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama’s Fiji First party was winning 60 percent of the vote; its closest rival, the Sodelpa Party, was trailing with 27 percent. Mr. Bainimarama, who seized control in a 2006 coup, is popular partly because of his focus on social programs and increased infrastructure spending. The 100 or so international election observers reported no problems by the time polls closed. The international community is prepared to drop remaining sanctions once Fiji restores democracy, including returning it to full membership among the Commonwealth nations.