President of Fiji

President of the Republic of Fiji
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Jioji Konrote since 12 November 2015
Residence	Government House, Suva
Appointer	Parliament of Fiji
Term length	3 years
Inaugural holder	Penaia Ganilau
Formation	5 December 1987

Fiji
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Fiji
Constitution History
Executive President Jioji Konrote Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama Cabinet Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Leader of the Opposition Teimumu Kepa
Legislative Parliament Speaker: Jiko Luveni
Judiciary Supreme Court Court of Appeal High Court
Local government Recent municipal elections 2002 2005
Former and informal Monarchy Governor Governor-General Chief Minister Executive Council Legislative Council Great Council of Chiefs Vice-President
Elections Electoral system Voting Constituencies Open Communal National Political parties Recent elections Parliamentary: 2014 2018 Presidential: 2000 2006
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister for Foreign Affairs Diplomatic missions of Fiji to Fiji Passport Visa requirements
Other countries Atlas

The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President is appointed by the Parliament of Fiji for a three-year term under the terms of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji.^[1] 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 Military Forces.

History of the office

The office of President was established following two military coups in 1987 that led to the proclamation of a republic on 7 October, ending the 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 was the subject of a police investigation that continued up to the time of the 2006 coup). 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 forces 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 recognise him as such.^[2] 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.^[3]

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 multicultural 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."^[4]

On 28 July 2009, Iloilo announced that he would be leaving office on 30 July.^[5] Brigadier-General (Rtd) Ratu Epeli Nailatikau succeeded him as acting President. On 5 November 2009, Nailatikau was sworn in as President.^[6]

In March 2012, the Bainimarama government disestablished the Great Council of Chiefs by decree.^[7][8] 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.^[9]

On 12 October 2015, the Parliament elected Major-General (Rtd) Jioji Konrote as President.^[10] On 12 November 2015, Konrote was sworn in as President.^[11]

List of Presidents of Fiji (1987–present)

№		President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Prime Minister
Head of the Interim Military Government
–		Rabuka, SitiveniMajor general Sitiveni Rabuka (born 1948) Acting	7 October 1987	5 December 1987	7001590000000000000♠59 days	Military	—
Presidents of the Republic of Fiji
1		Ganilau, PenaiaRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau (1918–1993)	5 December 1987	15 December 1993 †	7003220200000000000♠6 years, 10 days	Independent	Kamisese Mara Sitiveni Rabuka
–		Mara, KamiseseRatu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004) Acting	16 December 1993	18 January 1994	7001330000000000000♠33 days	Independent	Sitiveni Rabuka
2		Mara, KamiseseRatu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004)	18 January 1994	29 May 2000	7003232300000000000♠6 years, 132 days	Independent	Sitiveni Rabuka Mahendra Chaudhry Tevita Momoedonu
Head of the Interim Military Government
–		Bainimarama, FrankCommodore Frank Bainimarama (born 1954) Acting	29 May 2000	13 July 2000	7001450000000000000♠45 days	Military	Laisenia Qarase
President of the Republic of Fiji
3		Iloilo, JosefaRatu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011)	13 July 2000	5 December 2006	7003233600000000000♠6 years, 145 days	Independent	Laisenia Qarase Tevita Momoedonu Laisenia Qarase
Head of the Interim Military Government
–		Bainimarama, FrankCommodore Frank Bainimarama (born 1954) Acting	5 December 2006	4 January 2007	7001300000000000000♠30 days	Military	Jona Senilagakali
Presidents of the Republic of Fiji
(3)		Iloilo, JosefaRatu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011)	4 January 2007	30 July 2009	7002938000000000000♠2 years, 207 days	Independent	Frank Bainimarama
–		Nailatikau, EpeliRatu Brigadier general (Rtd) Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941) Acting	30 July 2009	5 November 2009	7001980000000000000♠98 days	Independent	Frank Bainimarama
4		Nailatikau, EpeliRatu Brigadier general (Rtd) Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941)	5 November 2009	12 November 2015	7003219800000000000♠6 years, 7 days	Independent	Frank Bainimarama
5		Konrote, JiojiMajor general (Rtd) Jioji Konrote (born 1947)	12 November 2015	Incumbent	7003106600000000000♠2 years, 335 days	Independent	Frank Bainimarama

Notes

See also

• List of heads of state of Fiji
• Prime Minister of Fiji

References