Aseri Radrodro

The Honourable
Aseri Radrodro
MP
Rodorodo in 2016
Leader of SODELPA
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 April 2024
Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka
Preceded byViliame Gavoka
Minister of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 April 2024
Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka
Preceded byViliame Gavoka
In office
24 December 2022 – 22 January 2024
Preceded byPremila Kumar
Succeeded byViliame Gavoka
Member of the Fijian Parliament
for SODELPA List
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 September 2014
Personal details
Born1972
Political partySocial Democratic Liberal Party

Aseri Masivou Radrodro (born 1972) is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. Since April 2024 he has been the Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).[1]

Radrodro was born in Serea Village in Naitasiri Province and educated at Soloira District School and Queen Victoria School.[2] He subsequently studied finance at the University of the South Pacific, before gaining a Masters in Business Administration in 2006.[2] He has worked as a public servant, manager, and for the Fiji Sports Council, holding various managerial positions. He has also served on various Boards including the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA), Fijian Holdings, Fiji TV, Merchant Finance and FHLS.[2]

He joined SODELPA in 2014 and was elected to the Parliament of Fiji at the 2014 elections, gaining 2169 votes.[3] Initially appointed shadow minister for Transport and Infrastructure, in 2017 he was appointed shadow minister for Economy.[2] In the run-up to the 2018 election, then-SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka attempted to block him from being a party candidate, but backed down after intervention from party president Naiqama Lalabalavu.[4] In March 2018 he was noted as a future SODELPA leader.[5]

He was re-elected in the 2018 elections,[6] winning 2,312 votes. In July 2020 he was investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for his use of parliamentary allowances.[7] In August 2020 he stood for party leader,[8][9] but lost to Viliame Gavoka. When SODELPA split in 2021 he stayed with the party,[10][11][12] and ran as a candidate for the party in the 2022 election.[13]

He was re-elected in the 2022 election.[14] On 24 December 2022 he was appointed Minister of Education in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.[15] On 19 January 2024 he was dismissed as a Minister for "insubordination and disobedience" after he ignored legal advice in terminating members of the Fiji National University council.[16][17] He was replaced as Minister of Education by SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka.[18]

On 22 January 2024 Radrodro was alleged to have been involved in an extramarital affair with fellow Minister Lynda Tabuya.[19]

In April 2024 he was elected as leader of SODELPA, replacing Viliame Gavoka.[20] He was subsequently reinstated as Minister for Education.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Radrodro is SODELPA leader". Fiji Times. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Vote2018: Meet A Provisional Candidate – Aseri Radrodro". Fiji Sun. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Fiji 50-member parliament announced at FMF Gymnasium". Fiji Sports Council. 22 September 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  4. ^ Jyoti Pratibha (6 December 2017). "Rabuka Backs Down, Radrodro Gets Ticket". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ Nemani Delaibatiki (14 March 2018). "MP Aseri Radrodro Hitting Right Notes". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  6. ^ Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: SODELPA secures 21 seats". Fiji Times. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  7. ^ Rosi Doviverata (3 July 2020). "Probe On MPs: And Then There Were 9, FICAC Search SODELPA Party HQ". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. ^ Nemani Delaibatiki (13 August 2020). "Four Expected To Give Rabuka Tough Fight For SODELPA Leadership". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  9. ^ Nemani Delaibatiki (18 August 2020). "SODELPA Leadership: Aseri Radrodro Outlines Policies That He Says Will Unify The Country In Bid To Lead In 2022 Poll". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ^ Shalveen Chand (12 November 2021). "Sodelpa Crisis: Feud Gets Fuelled". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  11. ^ Inoke Rabonu (21 April 2022). "SODELPA We're not worried: Duru". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  12. ^ Rashika Kumar (3 November 2022). "Committed members of SODELPA are glad Ro Filipe and his group have finally left SODELPA - Radrodro". Fiji Village. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  13. ^ Nacanieli Tuilevuka (2 August 2022). "SODELPA Is Here To Stay: Radrodro". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  14. ^ Singh, Indira (18 December 2022). "Top 55 confirmed". FBC. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  15. ^ Apenisa Waqairadovu (24 December 2022). "Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG". FBC News. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Prime Minister Dismisses Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro for insubordination". Fiji Sun. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  17. ^ Praneeta Prakash (21 January 2024). "Rabuka stands by his decision on Radrodro". FBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  18. ^ Apenisa Waqairadovu (19 January 2024). "PM dismisses Radrodro". FBC News. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  19. ^ "'It is fake news': Fiji ministers embroiled in sex and drug scandal". RNZ. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Radrodro is new SODELPA Leader and Gavoka remains as Minister for Education". Fiji Village. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Radrodro to be reinstated as Minister for Education today". Fiji Village. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.