Fiji Islands - Politics

­After a 10-year hiatus following a military coup and declaration of a Republic in 1987, Fiji resumed its membership of the Commonwealth in October 1997. Its new 1997 constitution came into force in July 1998.

The first general election under the 1997 constitution, held in May 1999, resulted in a surprise defeat for the ruling Fijian Political Party (SVT, with only eight of the 71 seats) and its new allies the National Federation Party (NFP, no seats) by a coalition led by the Fiji Labour Party (FLP, 37 seats) and including the Fijian Association Party (FAP, ten seats), the Party of National Unity (PANU, four seats) and the recently formed Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA, three seats). The turnout was high at these elections where voting was compulsory.

Following his victory, FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry became the first Indo-Fijian prime minister and, despite his party’s overall majority in the House of Representatives, he formed a cabinet representing all four of the coalition partners. His priorities were to defuse ethnic tensions and restore economic growth after the sharp contractions of 1997–99.
Soon after the elections, Rabuka resigned and was replaced as SVT leader by Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, who had been a minister in the Rabuka administration.

In May 2000, armed ethnic Fijians, led by George Speight, overthrew the government, occupying the parliament building and taking about 40 hostages – including the prime minister. There then ensued continuous negotiations between the army and the rebels until the deadlock was finally broken in July, when the hostages were released, a new civilian president and ‘emergency’ government were appointed and backed by the military. In June the country was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy. In July Speight and some of his supporters were arrested and charged with treason.

In October 2000, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo appointed a constitutional review commission to recommend a new constitutional arrangement for Fiji Islands. In December 2000, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon appointed Justice Pius N Langa, Deputy President of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, as his special envoy to help accelerate the restoration of democracy and promote national unity.

A general election was held under the new constitution from 25 August to 5 September 2001 when 26 political parties participated (ten more than in 1999). In a poll that was judged by international including Commonwealth observers to reflect the will of the people, Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) took 32 seats, pushing FLP (27 seats) into second place, followed by Matanitu Vanua (six). SDL leader and head of the interim government Laisenia Qarase was sworn in as prime minister. Following the country’s return to democratic government, the suspension from Commonwealth councils was lifted in December 2001.

A row soon erupted, however, when Qarase failed to appoint any FLP members to his cabinet or the Senate. An impasse continued, with Qarase only prepared to appoint ministers he felt he could work with, and Chaudhry insisting on his constitutional rights. In February 2002 the High Court ruled Qarase had failed to comply with the constitution when he appointed his cabinet and in July 2003 the Supreme Court upheld this judgment. But the impasse endured, with the two parties unable to agree on a list of cabinet appointments, the key issues being the number of FLP members (14 or 17) and whether Chaudhry himself should be included.
The May 2006 general election was won by SDL with 36 seats, while FLP took 31 seats and the United People’s Party (UPP) two. Commonwealth observers present reported that the result reflected the wishes of the people. Qarase continued as prime minister and, in accordance with the constitution, appointed a cabinet in which nine posts were filled by FLP. FLP leader Chaudhry declined a position for himself.

In December 2006 the army took control of government dismissing the prime minister and president; and head of the army Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama assumed the presidency. This coup was immediately condemned by the international community and at a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) on 8 December Fiji Islands’ military regime was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth pending restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country. In January 2007 Bainimarama reinstated the president and became interim prime minister.

Fiji’s Court of Appeal ruled in April 2009 that the military coup, which ousted the elected government in 2006, and the interim government that followed it were illegal. The ruling requested that the president appoint an interim prime minister and call a general election. In response, President Iloilo announced that he had abrogated the constitution and dismissed all the judges. He appointed himself as head of government and subsequently reinstated Bainimarama as prime minister.
In July 2009 Bainimarama announced the retirement of Iloilo from the presidency; Vice President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau assumed the role of acting president and in November 2009 was confirmed as president.

Following Fiji Islands’ suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth in December 2006, sustained efforts were made by the Commonwealth to engage the interim government to promote a return to constitutional democracy and to encourage a national dialogue aimed at tackling the underlying issues that led to military coups. On 1 September 2009, having failed to satisfy CMAG that it was committed to a timetable for restoring democracy, Fiji Islands was fully suspended from the Commonwealth. In announcing this, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma said that the Commonwealth remained open to engaging with the interim government towards the restoration of constitutional democracy.

* Following the decisions taken by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on 31 July 2009, Fiji Islands was fully suspended from membership of the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009.