Bainimarama's Fiji First party received approximately 50 percent of the votes, while the opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) came in close behind with nearly 40 percent, as reported by the Fiji Elections Office (FEO). Bainimarama, who has been Prime Minister since leading a bloodless coup in 2006, has secured 27 out of 51 seats, according to the electoral commission. He expressed his pride in being elected as Prime Minister once again during an interview with FBC News from Auckland, New Zealand, where he was attending his brother's funeral. SODELPA, which won 21 seats, along with three other losing parties, called on the electoral commission and FEO to hold off on officially announcing the results, claiming that the tally process lacked transparency. This election marked only the second time Fiji has held democratic elections since 2006. Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labour Party, along with SODELPA, National Federation Party, and Unity Fiji, expressed concerns on Facebook Live about the Elections Supervisor's rush to release results, which they believe has led to compromises in procedures and legal requirements. Chaudhry emphasized the importance of rectifying these issues for the election to maintain credibility. In response, Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem defended the transparency of the authorities, stating that the Fiji Elections Office is providing accurate and timely information to the people of Fiji. Endorsing Saneem's assertions, the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) stated in a brief interim statement on Friday that the Fijian election campaign was conducted in accordance with international norms. The MOG acknowledged concerns from some members of the public regarding the integrity of pre-poll ballots and committed to closely examining the process. The MOG concluded that the legal framework supporting the electoral system adheres to universal suffrage and non-discrimination principles. The election was affected by heavy rain earlier in the week, leading to the rescheduling of voting in certain venues to Saturday, Nov 17, to ensure all eligible votes were included in the final count.