Seating arrangement is a big indication of respect. The national government works through the traditional local government. But now he is the village's representative to the government councils. When the village wants to get money for a project, rebuilding the community hall for instance, there is a town meeting. The decision of the meeting is taken to a government council by the turaga ni koro.
People are interested in national politics too.
They vote for the Prime Minister. It seems to me that in their minds, the local chiefly authority is something entirely different from that of the world of national politics. In the village, one needs to follow the rules of respect and the chief is the culmination of this system. It is like the government of social relations and has little to do with politics. Chiefly titles are passed through families and mataqalis.