President of Fiji
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President of Fiji
| President of the Republic of Fiji |
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| Term length | Five years |
| Inaugural holder | Penaia Ganilau |
| Formation | 5 December 1987 |
| Fiji |
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Executive
Legislative Former/informal institutions Great Council of Chiefs |
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The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President 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 was constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but this did not give the Prime Minister a 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]
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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.
Main article: 2000 Fijian coup d'état
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.
Main article: 2006 Fijian coup d'état
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]
In March 2012, the Bainimarama government de-established the Great Council of Chiefs by decree. Bainimarama confirmed this meant there would need to be a new method to appoint the President; this, he said, would be provided by a new Constitution, to be adopted in 2013 following consultations with the people.[4]
List of Presidents of Fiji (1987-Present)
Main article: List of heads of state of Fiji
See also
References
- ^ Literally, "Elizabeth, Queen of Fiji and Britain"
- ^ "Voreqe: Army is executive authority", Fiji Times, January 2, 2008
- ^ "Keep President Fijian", Robert Matau, Fiji Times, 7 January 2008
- ^ "Fiji to have a new system to elect president", FijiVillage, 14 March 2012
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