Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)

Last updated

Leader of the Opposition of the
Republic of Fiji
Coat of arms of Fiji.svg
Coat of arms of
the Republic of Fiji
Inia Seruiratu - 2019 (48403437787) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Inia Seruiratu
since 29 March 2023
Term length While leader of the largest political party in Parliament that is not in government
Inaugural holder Sidiq Koya
Formation10 October 1970

In Fiji, the Leader of the Opposition (or Opposition Leader) is a senior politician who commands the support of the Official Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition is, by convention, the leader of the largest political party in the Parliament of Fiji that is not in government. This is usually this is the parliamentary leader of the second-largest caucus in Parliament. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready to form a government himself should the Prime Minister lose the confidence of the parliament.

Contents

Typically the leader of the Opposition is elected by his or her party according to its rules. A new leader may be elected when the incumbent dies, resigns, or is challenged for the leadership. Inia Seruiratu of the FijiFirst party (independent since 2024 [1] ) has been serving as the leader of the opposition since 29 March 2023. [2]

Description of the office

The Leader of the Opposition is chosen by a vote of all members of Parliament who declare that they do not support the government. But before the adoption of the 2013 Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition was formally appointed by the President. The appointment was not at the president's personal discretion, however, as he was required by the Constitution to appoint the person most acceptable to the majority of the Opposition (defined as members of the House of Representatives who belong to political parties not represented in the Cabinet). In theory, that meant the parliamentary leader of the largest Opposition party. In practice, the person most eligible could decline the office, as was the case between 2001 and 2004, when Mahendra Chaudhry, whose Labour Party held 28 of the 30 Opposition seats in the House of Representatives, adamantly refused to accept the position of Leader of the Opposition, insisting that he and his party wanted representation in the Cabinet instead. Until he reversed his position late in 2004 (following the collapse of negotiations with Prime Minister Qarase), this forced the President to appoint Mick Beddoes, the sole parliamentary representative of the United General Party, as Leader of the Opposition.

Under the 1997 Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition chose 8 of the 32 members of the Senate, Fiji's upper house of Parliament, and had the right to be consulted about the appointment of the Chief Justice.

List of leaders of the opposition in Fiji (1970–present)

PortraitLeaderTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyElection Prime minister(s)
No image.png
Sidiq Koya
(1924–1993)
197019776–7 years  NFP 1972
1977 (Mar)
Mara
Jai Ram Reddy 1960.jpg
Jai Ram Reddy
(1937–2022)
197719846–7 years  NFP 1977 (Sep)
1982
Mara
No image.png
Sidiq Koya
(1924–1993)
198419872–3 years  NFP Mara
No image.png
Harish Sharma
(born 1932)
198719870 years  NFP Mara
Kamisese Mara.jpg
Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara
(1920–2004)
13 April 198714 May 198731 days  Alliance 1987 Bavadra
Vacant (14 May 1987 – 3 April 1992)
Jai Ram Reddy 1960.jpg
Jai Ram Reddy
(1937–2022)
3 April 199228 August 19997 years, 147 days  NFP 1992
1994
Rabuka
Inoke Kubuabola 2012.jpg
Ratu
Inoke Kubuabola
(born 1948)
28 August 19993 October 20001 year, 36 days  SVT 1999 Chaudhry
Momoedonu
Vacant (3 October 2000 – 3 July 2001)
Prem Singh 2.jpg
Prem Singh 3 July 200117 April 2002288 days  NFP 2001 Qarase
Mick Beddoes 2015.jpg
Mick Beddoes 17 April 200221 November 20042 years, 218 days  UPP Qarase
Mahendra Chaudhry 2015.jpg
Mahendra Chaudhry
(born 1942)
21 November 20043 June 20061 year, 194 days  Labour Qarase
Mick Beddoes 2015.jpg
Mick Beddoes 3 June 20065 December 2006185 days  UPP 2006 Qarase
Vacant (5 December 2006 – 6 October 2014)
Teimumu Kepa.jpg
Ro
Teimumu Kepa
(born 1945)
[3] [4]
6 October 201420 November 20184 years, 45 days  SODELPA 2014 Bainimarama
Sitiveni Rabuka 2020.jpg
Major general (Rtd)
Sitiveni Rabuka
(born 1948)
[5]
26 November 2018
[lower-alpha 1]
7 December 20202 years, 11 days  SODELPA 2018 Bainimarama
Naiqama Lalabalavu March 2023 (cropped).jpg
Ratu
Naiqama Lalabalavu
(born 1953)
8 December 202024 December 20222 years, 16 days  SODELPA Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama November 2014.jpg
Rear admiral (Rtd)
Frank Bainimarama
(born 1954)
24 December 20228 March 202374 days  FijiFirst 2022 Rabuka
Inia Seruiratu - 2019 (48403437787) (cropped).jpg
Inia Seruiratu 29 March 2023Incumbent1 year, 176 days  Independent
(FijiFirst 2023–24)
Rabuka

Timeline

Inia SeruiratuFrank BainimaramaNaiqama LalabalavuSitiveni RabukaTeimumu KepaMahendra ChaudhryMick BeddoesPrem Singh (Fijian politician)Inoke KubuabolaKamisese MaraHarish SharmaJai Ram ReddySidiq KoyaLeader of the Opposition (Fiji)

See also

Notes

  1. Suspended from 26 May to 29 June 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Jamaica</span>

Politics in Jamaica takes place in the framework of a representative parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The 1962 Constitution of Jamaica established a parliamentary system whose political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. As the head of state, King Charles III - on the advice of the Prime Minister of Jamaica - appoints a governor-general as his representative in Jamaica. The governor-general has a largely ceremonial role, with their parliamentary function consisting simply of granting royal assent to bills which have passed Parliament. Jamaica constitutes an independent Commonwealth realm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Fiji</span>

The politics of Fiji take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multiparty system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Fiji. The judiciary is mostly independent of the executive and the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Council of Chiefs</span> 1876–2012 & 2023– Fijian constitutional body

The Great Council of Chiefs is a Fijian constitutional body. It previously existed from 1876 to March 2012 and was re-established in May 2023.

Chapter 6: The Parliament.Chapter 6 of the Fiji Constitution is titled The Parliament. The five Parts, further subdivided into forty sections making up this chapter, set out the composition, functions, and powers of Fiji's bicameral legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sitiveni Rabuka</span> Prime Minister of Fiji from 1992 to 1999 and since 2022

Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka is a Fijian politician, sportsman, and former soldier who has been serving as Prime Minister of Fiji since 24 December 2022. He was the instigator of two military coups in 1987. He was democratically elected as Prime Minister of Fiji, serving from 1992 to 1999, and again in 2022, leading a three-party coalition. He also served as Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs from 1999 to 2001, and later as Chairman of the Cakaudrove Provincial Council from 2001 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupeni Baba</span> Fijian academic and politician (1942–2024)

Tupeni Lebaivalu Baba was a Fijian academic, politician, and Cabinet Minister. A founding member of the Fiji Labour Party, he served as a Cabinet Minister in the government of Timoci Bavadra until removed from office by the 1987 Fijian coups d'état, and then one of the two Deputy Prime Ministers in the government of Mahendra Chaudhry until removed from office by the 2000 Fijian coup d'état. After splitting with Choudhry in the wake of the coup, he founded the New Labour Unity Party to contest the 2001 election, but failed to win a seat in Parliament. He unsuccessfully attempting to re-enter politics at the 2006 election under the banner of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua, and again at the 2014 election as part of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament of Fiji</span> National legislature of the Republic of Fiji

The Parliament of the Republic of Fiji is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Fiji. It consists of 55 members elected every 4 years using open list proportional representation in one multi-member nationwide constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teimumu Kepa</span> Fijian politician

RoTeimumu Vuikaba Kepa is a Fijian chief, former Member of the Parliament of Fiji, and former leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She was the first Fijian woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition. She previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the Qarase-led Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) government from 2001 to 2006. As the paramount chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy, she holds the title Roko Tui Dreketi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viliame Naupoto</span> Fijian politician

Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto is a Fijian soldier, politician and former Cabinet Minister. After serving as Commander of the Republic of Fiji Navy, he was appointed as a Minister in the military regime of dictator Frank Bainimarama. He was later appointed commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, before being elected to the Parliament of Fiji in December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Next Fijian general election</span>

General elections will be held in Fiji by 2026 to elect members of the eighth Parliament under the 2013 constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social Democratic Liberal Party</span> Political party in Fiji

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is a Fijian political party. The party was formed in January 2013 after the dissolution of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua.

FijiFirst was a liberal political party in Fiji. The party was formed in March 2014 by then Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama. It was deregistered on 1 July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jone Usamate</span> Fijian politician

Jone Usamate is a Fijian politician, who served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services from 2014 to 2022 and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources from 2020 to 2022 in the Fijian government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viliame Gavoka</span> Fijian politician (born 1950)

Viliame "Bill" Rogoibulu Gavoka is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. From 28 November 2020 to 2022 he was leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, after ousting Sitiveni Rabuka in the SODELPA leadership contest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Fijian general election</span>

General elections were held in Fiji on 14 November 2018. 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. The main opposition party, Social Democratic Liberal Party, gained six seats, whilst the National Federation Party retained its three seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynda Tabuya</span> Fijian politician and lawyer

Lynda Diseru Tabuya is a Fijian politician and lawyer who has served as the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation since 24 December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inia Seruiratu</span> Fijian politician

Inia Batikoto Seruiratu is a Fijian politician and member of the Parliament of Fiji for the FijiFirst party. He has been serving as the Opposition Leader since 29 March 2023. He served as the Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management from 2020 to 2022, and Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing from 2018 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Fijian general election</span>

General elections were held in Fiji on 14 December 2022 to elect the 55 members of Parliament. The elections took place following the passage of controversial electoral amendments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Alliance (Fiji)</span> Political party in Fiji

The People's Alliance is a political party in Fiji. The party was formed in 2021 by Sitiveni Rabuka who served as Prime Minister of Fiji from 1992 to 1999 and again from December 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitutional Offices Commission (Fiji)</span>

The Constitutional Offices Commission is an advisory body that is responsible for providing advice to the President of Fiji for the appointment of key officials within public offices in Fiji.

References

  1. Navitalai Naivalurua (5 August 2024). "Opposition splits in 2 - One led by Seruiratu, the other will be led by Naivalurua". Fiji Village. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. "Seruiratu is the new Opposition Leader".
  3. "Members of Parliament". Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  4. Fijivillage. "Sitiveni Rabuka elected as SODELPA Party Leader". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. "I am ready, say Rabuka". FijiTimes. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2020.