Celebrations have erupted across Fiji as citizens prepare to welcome a new prime minister for the first time in 16 years.
Sitiveni Rabuka will lead Fiji for the next term after his People's Alliance party clinched a deal with the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) on Tuesday afternoon.
The parties held two days of tense negotiations after Fiji's national election, which saw no party win an outright majority.
Mr Rabuka thanked the Fijian people for their support and said they had voted for change.
"I'd like to thank them very much for giving us the honour of forming the next government of Fiji — a government we hope will bring the change that people have been calling out for over the last few years," he said.
"It's going to be an onerous task, it will not be easy as it was never easy to try and dislodge an incumbent government."
He praised the electoral commission in a press conference after the coalition was announced, despite last week calling for a recount of votes following a glitch in the publishing of results.
"They had expected opposition and complaints from us and they got it. We didn't disappoint them," Mr Rabuka said.
"But now that it's all over, I'm sure we can all turn our back on that, work together, form the government."
Both the incumbent ruling party, Fiji First, and a coalition between the People's Alliance and the National Federation Party (NFP) won 26 seats when the final results were announced on Sunday.
SODELPA, a majority Indigenous-Fijian party, held the balance of power with three remaining seats.
Both sides have been in deep negotiations to clinch a deal with SODELPA, in the hope of forming a government.
SODELPA vice-president Anare Jale said the management board made its decision this afternoon through a secret ballot.
"It has not been a very easy decision. It has taken us a few days to decide on the way forward for the party," Mr Jale said.
"We are so grateful that the end has now come."
The decision came down to the wire, with 14 members voting to side with Fiji First and 16 voting to ally with the coalition.
It marks the end of 16 years of leadership for Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 military coup.
Mr Bainimarama's Fiji First party has won the last two democratic elections.
People's Alliance supporter Kava Masilagi said it was a historic day for Fiji.
"As soon as it was announced, cars up and down Suva were beeping their horns and screaming … it's a whole other atmosphere," she said.
"Everyone is on the road celebrating, there are tears of joy … it is indescribable.
"It's been 16 years since we've had another government."
