Fijian general election, 2018

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Fijian general election, 2018
Flag of Fiji.svg
←  2014 14 November 20182022 →
All 51 seats in the Parliament of Fiji
26 seats needed for a majority
Registered637,537
Turnout458,570 (72%) Decrease2.svg12.6%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Frank Bainimarama November 2014.jpg Sitiveni Rabuka May 2017.jpg Biman Prasad January 2015.jpg
Leader Frank Bainimarama Sitiveni Rabuka Biman Prasad
Party FijiFirst SODELPA NFP
Leader sinceNov 201424 June 2016March 2014
Seats before32153
Seats after27213
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 6Steady2.svg
Popular vote227,241181,07233,515
Percentage50.02%39.85%7.38%
Prime Minister before election

Frank Bainimarama
FijiFirst

Subsequent Prime Minister

Frank Bainimarama
FijiFirst

Fiji
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Fiji

General elections were held in Fiji on 14 November 2018. [1] The result was a victory for the ruling FijiFirst party of Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, which received just over 50% of the vote and 27 of the 51 seats in Parliament, a loss of five seats. [2] The main opposition party, Social Democratic Liberal Party, gained six seats, whilst the National Federation Party retained its three seats.

Fiji country in Oceania

Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec Islands to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island is Ono-i-Lau. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the total population of 898,760. The capital, Suva, on Viti Levu, serves as the country's principal cruise-ship port. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centres such as Nadi—where tourism is the major local industry—or Lautoka, where the sugar-cane industry is paramount. Due to its terrain, the interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited.

FijiFirst political party in Fiji

FijiFirst is a registered political party in Fiji. The party was formed in March 2014 by the current Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama.

Frank Bainimarama Prime Minister of Fiji

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama CF, MSD, OStJ, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu, is a Fijian naval officer and politician who has been Prime Minister of Fiji since 2007. He was the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces from 1999 to 2014. While holding the office of Prime Minister, he has temporarily held various ministerial portfolios: Information, Home Affairs, Immigration, Public Service, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Finance, and Foreign Affairs.

Contents

The elections also saw female representation in Parliament rise to 20 percent, with 10 women elected. [3]

Background and campaign

On 30 September Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced that the elections would be held on 14 November 2018. President Jioji Konrote subsequently dissolved parliament in accordance with section 58(3) of the constitution, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Jioji Konrote Fijian politician

Jioji Konousi "George" Konrote, OF, MC is a Fijian politician and retired Major-General of the Fiji Military who has been President of Fiji since 2015. After commanding a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Konrote served as Fiji's High Commissioner to Australia from 2001 to 2006, as Minister of State for Immigration briefly in 2006, and as Minister for Employment Opportunities, Productivity and Industrial Relations from 2014 to 2015. He is the first non-iTaukei president and the first Seventh-day Adventist to be elected by parliament, as previous presidents were selected by the Great Council of Chiefs.

234 candidates representing six political parties contested in the elections. 56 of the candidates were women. [4] Candidate numbers for the ballot paper were drawn on 18 October. [5]

During a campaign rally, FijiFirst leader Frank Bainimarama stated that he wanted to win all 51 parliamentary seats and govern without an opposition, arguing that the two main opposition parties represented i-Taukei and Indo-Fijian interests rather than all Fijians. [6] The SODELPA party promised to restore the Great Council of Chiefs within a hundred days if elected, and to consider changing the electoral system to restore communal constituencies. [7] They later explicitly promised to restore the 1997 constitution. [8]

Fijian may refer to:

Great Council of Chiefs

The Great Council of Chiefs(Bose Levu Vakaturaga in Fijian, ग्रेट काउंसिल ऑफ चीफ्स in Fiji Hindi) was a constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands from 1876 to March 2012. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through military coup in December 2006. It was formally disestablished by decree in March 2012.

The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by George Speight.

During the election campaign SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka was tried and acquitted on charges of falsely declaring his assets and liabilities to the Supervisor of Elections. [9] An appeal by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, [10] which could have resulted in Rabuka's disqualification two days from the poll, was dismissed, with FICAC ordered to pay costs. [11] Shortly before the appeal was decided Rabuka was again called in by police on unspecified charges. [12]

Sitiveni Rabuka Prime Minister of Fiji

Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected as Prime Minister of Fiji, serving from 1992 to 1999. He went on to serve as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, and later served as Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council from 2001 to 2008. He was elected to this position on 24 May 2001 and re-elected for another three-year term on 13 April 2005. On 24 June 2016, Rabuka was elected as leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, succeeding Leader of the Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa, who publicly disapproved of Rabuka's nomination to replace her. On 26 November 2018, Rabuka was appointed as the leader of the Opposition to Parliament, following the 2018 election defeat. Rabuka was the only nomination for the position and his nomination was moved by Ro Teimumu Kepa and seconded by Biman Prasad.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is the country's mandated law enforcement agency to investigate and prosecute public sector corruption, as well as educate society on understanding and reporting corruption.

On election day, voting was suspended at 26 polling stations due to torrential rain and flooding. [13] Ballots cast at those stations were shredded. Polling recommenced with fresh ballot papers on Saturday 17 November.

Electoral system

The 51 members of Parliament were elected from a single nationwide constituency by open list proportional representation with an electoral threshold of 5%. Seats are allocated using the d'Hondt method. [14] [15]

Schedule

Key dates relating to the general election were as follows:

30 September (Sunday)Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announces elections to be held on 14 November 2018.
30 September (Sunday)President Jioji Konrote dissolves parliament in accordance with section 58(3) of the constitution, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
1 October (Monday)President Jioji Konrote issues the writ of election
1 October (Monday)Registration of voters ends at 6 p.m.
2 October (Tuesday)Candidate nominations open at 8 a.m.
15 October (Monday)Candidate nominations close at 12 p.m.
24 October (Wednesday)Postal voting applications close at 5 p.m.
5 November (Monday)Pre-poll voting begins
10 November (Saturday)Pre-poll voting ends
12 November (Monday) Media blackout on campaigning commences at 12.00 a.m. for 48 hours
14 November (Wednesday)Election Day – polling places open from 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
14 November (Wednesday)Election Night – provisional results will be progressively released from 6 p.m.
18 November (Sunday)Official results declared
18 November (Sunday)President Jioji Konrote receives the Writ of Election from the Electoral Commission.

Results

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
FijiFirst 227,24150.0227–5
Social Democratic Liberal Party 181,07239.8521+6
National Federation Party 33,5157.3830
Unity Fiji Party 6,8961.520New
HOPE 2,8110.620New
Fiji Labour Party 2,8000.6200
Invalid/blank votes4,179–––
Total458,33510051+1
Registered voters/turnout637,52771.27––
Source: Fiji Village

Elected MPs

FijiFirst [16] SODELPA [17] NFP [18]
Frank Bainimarama
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Alipate Nagata
Parveen Bala
Vijay Nath
Mahendra Reddy
Premila Kumar
Joseph Nand
Viam Pillay
Inia Seruiratu
Mereseini Vuniwaqa
Sanjay Kirpal
Osea Naiqamu
Alvikh Maharaj
George Vegnathan
Semi Koroilavesau
Jone Usamate
Rohit Sharma
Ashneel Sudhakar
Ifereimi Waqainabete
Selai Adimaitoga
Rosy Akbar
Jale Sigarara
Vijendra Prakash
Veena Bhatnagar
Alexander O’Connor
Salik Ram Govind 		Sitiveni Rabuka
Lynda Tabuya
Teimumu Kepa
Mosese Bulitavu
Niko Nawaikula
Atonio Lalabalavu
Anare Jale
Peceli Vosanibola
Viliame Gavoka
Jese Saukuru
Simione Rasova
Ratu Suliano Matanitobua
Mitieli Bulanauca
Ro Filipe Tuisawau
Inosi Kuridrani
Mikaele Leawere
Aseri Radrodro
Salote Radrodro
Adi Litia Qionibaravi
Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu
Tevita Navurelevu 		Biman Prasad
Pio Tikoduadua
Lenora Qereqeretabua

Aftermath

The ruling FijiFirst Party lost 5 seats, but retained a majority in Parliament. FijiFirst leader Frank Bainimarama blamed poor weather for the loss of votes. [19] Bainimarama was sworn in as Prime Minister on 20 November, and is expected to appoint a cabinet later in the week. [20]

Related Research Articles

Mahendra Chaudhry Fijian politician

The Rt. Hon. Mahendra Chaudhry is an Indo-Fijian and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party. Following a historic election in which he defeated the long-time former leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, the former trade union leader became Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister on 19 May 1999, but exactly one year later, on 19 May 2000 he and most of his Cabinet were taken hostage by coup leader George Speight, in the Fiji coup of 2000. Unable to exercise his duties, he and his ministers were sacked by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara on 27 May; Mara intended to assume emergency powers himself but was himself deposed by the military leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama. After 56 days in captivity, Chaudhry was released on 13 July and subsequently embarked on a tour of the world to rally support. He was one of the leading voices raised in opposition to the Qarase government's proposed Reconciliation and Unity Commission, which he said was just a mechanism to grant amnesty to persons guilty of coup-related offences. In January 2007 he was appointed as Minister of Finance, Sugar Reform Public Enterprise and National Planning in the interim Cabinet of Commodore Frank Bainimarama, following another coup. Chaudhry was also co-chair of the task force focusing on economic growth within the National Council for Building a Better Fiji. In 2008, he left the government and became an outspoken critic of it.

Fiji Labour Party political party

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National Federation Party Fijian political party

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Since attaining independence from the United Kingdom on 10 October 1970, Fijian history has been marked by exponential economic growth up to 1987, followed by relative stagnation, caused to a large extent by political instability following two military coups in 1987 and a civilian putsch in 2000. This was followed by another military coup in 2006. Rivalry between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, rather than ideological differences, have been the most visible cleavage of Fijian politics.

Mitieli Bulanauca is a Fijian politician, Member of the Parliament of Fiji, and former Cabinet Minister.

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Adi Litia Qionibaravi is a Fijian chief and member of the Parliament of Fiji. She is a member of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.

Social Democratic Liberal Party Political party in Fiji

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is a Taukei ethno-nationalist political party in Fiji. The party was formed in January 2013 after the dissolution of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua. The party's leader is Sitiveni Rabuka.

The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Fiji.

Mosese Bulitavu politician

Mosese Drecala Bulitavu is a Fijian politician and Member of the Parliament of Fiji. He is a member of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.

Salote Radrodro politician

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References

  1. ↑ FEO Launches 2018 General Elections Publication Handbook Fiji Sun, 19 January 2018
  2. ↑ Fiji election: Bainimarama returned as PM in slim victory The Guardian, 18 November 2018
  3. ↑ More women, bigger opposition in Fiji parliament Radio New Zealand, 19 November 2018
  4. ↑ "Six political parties to contest Fijian elections". RNZ. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Candidate numbers drawn". FBC. 18 October 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "Bainimarama hits out at opposition". RNZI. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs restored in 100 days under SODELPA - Rabuka". RNZI. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Vilimaina Naqelevuki (6 November 2018). "2018 General Election: SODELPA to bring back 1997 Constitution if it wins". Fiji Times. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  9. ↑ "Campaign continues after Rabuka found not guilty". RNZI. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "Fiji CJ to rule on FICAC appeal two days before election". RNZI. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "Appeal against Rabuka dismissed by Chief Justice". RNZI. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "Fiji's Rabuka not worried about latest police summons". RNZI. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "Voting suspended at 26 polling stations in Fiji due to weather". RNZ. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  14. ↑ Electoral system IPU
  15. ↑ Electoral system for national legislature – Fiji IDEA
  16. ↑ Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: FijiFirst secures 27 seats to form government". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  17. ↑ Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: SODELPA secures 21 seats". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Talebula Kate (18 November 2018). "2018 General Election: NFP trio to join Opposition". Fiji Times. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  19. ↑ "Fiji's election winner blames rain for drop in support". RNZI. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  20. ↑ "Frank Bainimarama sworn in as Fiji PM". RNZI. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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