Fiji

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Fiji

Government Executive President Epeli Nailatikau Vice-President Vacant Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama Cabinet Attorney-General Leader of the Opposition Legislative Parliament Senate House of Representatives Speaker Local government Municipal elections 2002 2005 Former/informal institutions Monarchy of Fiji Governor Governor-General Chief Minister Executive Council Legislative Council Constitution Preamble 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Great Council of Chiefs Chairman, G.C.C. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau Political parties Electoral system Voting Constituencies Open Communal National Elections Parliamentary (2006, 2009) Presidential (2006) Foreign relations Diplomatic missions

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Fiji's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. He or she was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but this does not give the the Prime Minister any money veto, only the right to be consulted. Although not entirely a figurehead, the President's role in government is mostly ceremonial, but there are important reserve powers that may be exercised in the event of a crisis. In addition, the President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Within the chiefly hierarchy, however, the President holds a lower ranking than the Paramount Chief of Fiji, currently Elizabeth II, Ilisapeci-Na Radi ni Viti kei Peritania^[1].

Contents 1 Presidential history 2 Interim Military Government (1987) 3 Presidents (1987-2000) 4 Interim Military Government (2000) 5 President (2000-2006) 6 Interim Military Government (2006-2007) 7 Presidents (2007-Present) 8 References

[edit] Presidential history

The presidential office was established following two military coups in 1987 that led to the proclamation of a republic on 7 October, and severed the 113-year link with the British Monarchy and later Fijian Monarchy. Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka, who had masterminded the coups, formed an Interim Military Government with himself as its head. He did not, however, take the title of President, and on 5 December appointed Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, the last Governor-General, as the first President of the republic.

A civilian putsch instigated by George Speight led to another constitutional upheaval in 2000. President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara resigned on 29 May rather than abrogate the Constitution, as the Military, supported by the Supreme Court, had asked. (Whether or not his resignation was forced is the subject of an ongoing police investigation). Commodore Frank Bainimarama took power as Head of the Interim Military Government (as had Rabuka in 1987), until Ratu Josefa Iloilo was appointed President on 13 July.

On 5 December 2006, the Military again overthrew the government. Bainimarama declared himself Acting President; he initially said that he had assumed the office in an interim capacity, and would soon ask the Great Council of Chiefs to reinstate Iloilo, but on 17 December he insisted that he was now the President and that the Great Council should recognize him as such. [1] Iloilo was re-instated as President on 4 January 2007.

In January 2008, Bainimarama stated that the military was "the executive authority in the appointment of the President", following the suspension of the Great Council of Chiefs. The President would be a military appointee, until a reformed GCC were installed.^[2]

A few days later, Citizens Constitutional Forum director Reverend Akuila Yabaki suggested that the position of President should, in future, be open to persons of any ethnicity, rather than reserved for indigenous Fijians. This suggestion was controversial, and was notably opposed by deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. A Rewa chief, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, also opposed the idea, and stated his view on the function of the presidency:

"The position of the president symbolises unity of both traditional structures of leadership which existed before parliamentary rule was established and the current Westminster system of parliament. This is where the Western system meets our traditional vanua system and we acknowledge the indigenous leadership that has evolved and catered for all races in our multi-cultural society. By nominating the President the nation is acknowledging the role our chiefs have played in society and I think the Fijian people would appreciate that the status quo stay." ^[3]

[edit] Interim Military Government (1987)

Order	Head of the Interim Military Government	Term of office
1.	Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka	7 October 1987 - 5 December 1987

[edit] Presidents (1987-2000)

Order	President	Term of office
1.	Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau	5 December 1987 - 15 December 1993
2.	Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara	15 December 1993 - 29 May 2000

[edit] Interim Military Government (2000)

Order	Head of the Interim Military Government	Term of office
2.	Commodore Frank Bainimarama	29 May 2000 - 13 July 2000

[edit] President (2000-2006)

Order	President	Term of office
3.	Ratu Josefa Iloilo	13 July 2000 - 5 December 2006

[edit] Interim Military Government (2006-2007)

Order	Head of the Interim Military Government	Term of office
3.	Commodore Frank Bainimarama	5 December 2006 - 4 January 2007

[edit] Presidents (2007-Present)

Order	President	Term of office
3.	Ratu Josefa Iloilo	4 January 2007 - 30 July 2009
4.	Ratu Epeli Nailatikau	30 July 2009 - Present

[edit] References

1. ^ Literally, "Elizabeth, Queen of Fiji and Britain"
2. ^ "Voreqe: Army is executive authority", Fiji Times, January 2, 2008
3. ^ "Keep President Fijian", Robert Matau, Fiji Times, 7 January 2008