President of Fiji

Fiji's Head of State is the President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. He or she is appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but this does 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.

Presidential history

The presidential office was established following two military coups in 1987 that led to the proclamation of a republic on October 7, 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 December 5 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 May 29 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. [http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/18/Fijilive13.html ] Iloilo was re-instated as President on January 4, 2007.

In January 2008, 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." [ [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=78032 "Keep President Fijian"] , Robert Matau, "Fiji Times", January 7, 2008]

Interim Military Government

President

References