Government and Politics of Fiji

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Legal System

based on British system

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji Dual citizenship recognized: Yes Residency requirement for naturalization: At least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 24 December 2022) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - the Great Council of Chiefs, which historically consisted of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system, was suspended in 2012 and has not been formally reconstituted elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; prime minister appointed by the president and must command majority support in Parliament election results: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president by Parliament on 22 October 2021; Sitiveni RABUKA appointed prime minister following the December 2022 general elections, in which his People's Alliance party led a coalition to victory

Legislative Branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9 appointed by the president, and 1 appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006) election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - SDL 27.5%, FLP 26.5%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, NFP 1.2%, independents 1.4%, UGP .3%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NLUP 2, NFP 1, independents 2, UGP 1

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political Parties

Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or CAMV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Head of State

President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau

Head of Government

Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet

Elections

president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006

Election Results

Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief Justice Anthony GATES

Constitution

promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level

Independence

10 October 1970 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Larry Lui ERAVA chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: [679] 331-4466 FAX: [679] 330-0081

Capital City

Suva (on Viti Levu)

Location

18 08 S, 178 25 E

Time Difference

UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

The name means "little hill" in the native Fijian (iTaukei) language and refers to a mound where a temple once stood

U.S. Embassy 158 Princes Road, Suva, Fiji Telephone: (679) 331-4466 Emergency after-hours telephone: (679) 772-8049 Facsimile: (679) 330-2267 Email: consularsuva@state.gov.

Military Branches

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory retirement at age 55