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.
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician 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.
Laisenia Qarase was a Fijian politician. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry,Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000,until his appointment as Prime Minister on 4 July. He won two parliamentary elections,but a military coup removed him from power on 5 December 2006. He was later imprisoned on corruption charges brought by the military-backed regime.
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Nailatikau,is a Fijian chief who was President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015. He has had a long career in the Military,diplomatic service,and government. From 2001 to 2006 he served as Speaker of the House of Representatives –the lower and more powerful chamber of the Fijian Parliament. He was also the chairman of the Parliamentary Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee. On 8 January 2007,he was appointed the interim Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade;he was moved to the post of interim Minister for Provincial Development and Multi-Ethnic Affairs in September 2008. In October 2008,he became Indigenous Affairs Minister "and effectively Great Council of Chiefs chairman". On 17 April 2009,he was appointed Vice-President by the military government.
The president of Fiji is the head of state of the Republic of Fiji. The president is appointed by the Parliament for a three-year term under the terms of the 2013 Constitution. Although not entirely a figurehead,the role of president in the government is largely ceremonial,but there are important reserve powers that may be exercised in the event of a crisis. In addition,the president is the commander-in-chief of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
The prime minister of Fiji is the head of government of the Republic of Fiji. The prime minister is appointed under the terms of the 2013 Constitution. The prime minister is the head of the Cabinet and appoints and dismisses ministers.
Brigadier-General Ratu Epeli Ganilau,MC,MSD,was a Fijian military officer and politician. His career previously encompassed such roles as Commander of the Fiji Military Forces and Chairman of the Bose Levu Vakaturaga. On 15 January 2007 he was sworn in as Minister for Fijian Affairs in the interim Cabinet formed in the wake of the 2006 Fijian coup d'état which deposed the Qarase government on 5 December 2006.
Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka is a Fijian politician,former soldier and former sportsman who has served 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.
Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama is a Fijian politician and former naval officer who served as the prime minister of Fiji from 2007 until 2022. A member of the FijiFirst party,which he founded in 2014,he began his career as an officer in the Fijian navy and commander of the Fijian military. Despite being suspended from Parliament,he served as the opposition leader from 24 December 2022 until 8 March 2023,when he resigned and was replaced by Inia Seruiratu.
Ro Teimumu 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.
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. Later in 2020,Fiji was hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic,which affected the economy and the daily lives of the people.
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission was a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation,Tolerance,and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 was passed. The legislation proposed to empower the commission to grant amnesty to perpetrators of the Fiji coup of 2000,and compensation to victims of it from 19 May 2000 through 15 March 2001. The Fijian President would retain a veto over the granting of amnesty.
The crisis that saw a virtual breakdown in relations between Fiji's government and military forces in late 2005 and early 2006,generated fears of civil unrest and even a military coup. The dismissing of Lieutenant Colonel Jone Baledrokadroka,the Acting Land Force Commander,for alleged insubordination on 12 January 2006 was coupled with unusual deployments of troops and naval vessels. Both before and after it was resolved on 16 January with a truce brokered by Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi,the crisis generated a great deal of comment.
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 was a coup d'état in Fiji carried out by Commodore Frank Bainimarama,Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF),against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and President Josefa Iloilo. It was the culmination of a political crisis that started the previous year,when the Qarase government introduced three bills to the Fijian Parliament. The Qoliqoli,Land Tribunal,and Reconciliation,Tolerance,and Unity Bills dealt with the ongoing ethnic conflicts in Fiji and the aftermath of the 2000 coup,and were considered to be pro-ethnic Fijian. Bainimarama presented the government with a list of demands on October 16 that included withdrawing the bills. Attempts at negotiation failed and the military launched the coup on 4 December. Parliament was dissolved,Qarase and his cabinet were dismissed,and some civilian officials were placed under house arrest. After the Great Council of Chiefs refused to appoint a cabinet friendly to the military,Bainimarama reached an understanding with Iloilo and reinstated him as President on 4 January 2007. Iloilo then appointed Bainimarama acting Prime Minister in charge of the Interim Cabinet.
General elections were held in Fiji on 17 September 2014 to select the 50 members of Parliament. The FijiFirst party led by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama won a landslide victory,winning 32 of the 50 seats. The Social Democratic Liberal Party and the National Federation Party were the only other two parties to cross the 5% electoral threshold and win seats.
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.
Fiji–United States relations are the bilateral relations between the Fiji and the United States. The relationship has improved significantly since Fiji's elections in September 2014,which restored a democratically elected government to Fiji for the first time since 2006. The United States had opposed Fiji's unelected government,which came to power through a military coup in December 2006.
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda,was a Fijian politician who served as the 3rd President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009,excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 to 4 January 2007. He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda,the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast. Like many Fijian people,he rarely used his surname and was known simply as Josefa Iloilo. He announced on 28 July 2009 that he would be leaving office on 30 July. At the age of 88,he was the world's oldest head of state.
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.
Nikenike Vurobaravu is a Vanuatuan diplomat and politician who has served as President of Vanuatu since 23 July 2022. Previously having been employed in numerous diplomatic and government positions,including as the first resident High Commissioner to Fiji,he was elected as president during the eighth round of the 2022 Vanuatuan presidential election in July 2022. He is a member of the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) political party.
