Frank Bainimarama
MSD | |
---|---|
Prime Minister of Fiji | |
In office 5 January 2007 – 24 December 2022[a] | |
President | |
Preceded by | Jona Senilagakali |
Succeeded by | Sitiveni Rabuka |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 24 December 2022 – 8 March 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Sitiveni Rabuka |
Preceded by | Naiqama Lalabalavu |
Succeeded by | Inia Seruiratu |
Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
In office 16 April 2020 – 24 December 2022 | |
Preceded by | Inia Seruiratu |
Succeeded by | Sitiveni Rabuka |
Leader of FijiFirst | |
Assumed office 31 March 2014 | |
Secretary-General | Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum |
Preceded by | Party established |
President of Fiji | |
In office 5 December 2006 – 4 January 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Jona Senilagakali |
Preceded by | Josefa Iloilo |
Succeeded by | Josefa Iloilo |
In office 29 May 2000 – 13 July 2000 | |
Prime Minister | Laisenia Qarase |
Preceded by | Kamisese Mara |
Succeeded by | Josefa Iloilo |
Personal details | |
Born | Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama 27 April 1954 Kiuva, Fiji |
Political party | FijiFirst |
Spouse | Maria Makitalena |
Children | 5 |
Relatives | Meli Bainimarama (brother) |
Alma mater | Dalhousie University |
Website | bainimarama.org |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Dominion of Fiji (until 1987) Fiji (since 1987) |
Branch/service | Republic of Fiji Navy |
Years of service | 1975–2014 |
Rank | Rear admiral |
^ a: Acting: 5 January 2007 – 22 September 2014 | |
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2006–2022
2022–2023
Timeline
General elections
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Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama
Bainimarama attended
Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup, removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as prime minister in 2007. Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst. In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama ceased to be Prime Minister after 16 years of rule, making him the second-longest serving Prime Minister of Fiji after Kamisese Mara. He was succeeded by the leader of the 1987 Fijian Coups d'etat, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition in March 2023.[4] The next day he was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific. On 14 March 2024 the High Court of Fiji convicted him of perverting the course of justice.[5]
Military career
Bainimarama's naval career spans three decades. He has received a number of honours for his service. He has been made an Officer Brother in the
Following his education at
After completing the Midshipmen's Supplementary Course in
After a brief Navigation Course in
Bainimarama returned to Fiji in September 1987.
Bainimarama underwent further training at the
Bainimarama was appointed as the Acting Chief of Staff on 10 November 1997, and was confirmed in this post on 18 April 1998. On 1 March 1999, he was promoted to the rank of
Fiji coup of 2000
A group led by George Speight, a businessman who had been declared bankrupt following the cancellation of several contracts by the government, entered Parliament buildings on 19 May 2000 and disaffected elements of the Fijian population rallied to his side. For 56 days Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and most of his cabinet, along with many parliamentarians and their staff, were held as hostages while Speight attempted to negotiate with the president, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, who denounced the coup and declared a state of emergency.
Believing that President Kamisese Mara was not dealing effectively with the situation, Bainimarama forced Mara to resign on 29 May 2000, in what some politicians have since called "a coup within a coup," and formed an interim military government, which negotiated an accord under which the rebels would release all hostages, including the deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, and would surrender without penalty. The government later reneged on the last part of the agreement and arrested Speight on 27 July 2000,[11][12] with Bainimarama saying that he had signed that part of the accord "under duress."[13]
Post-2000 coup
Bainimarama attended a Leadership and Change Management course with the Public Service Training and Development program in February 2002, and a Policy Planning Analysis and Management course at the
On 4 September 2003, Bainimarama attended the Pacific Armies Management Seminar XXVII in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to attend the PKO Capacity Building Seminar in the Philippine capital of Manila.
Despite his deteriorating relationship with the government, Bainimarama was reappointed commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on 5 February 2004. That month, he attended the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference. This was followed by the Seminar Executive Course at the Asia Pacific Centre for Strategic Studies in
On 14 December 2005, Bainimarama began an official visit to China, at the invitation of the People's Liberation Army.[14]
Political career
Fijian coup d'état, 2006
On 31 October 2006, while Bainimarama was in
In late November 2006, Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase, one of which was the withdrawal of three controversial bills, including the Qoliqoli Bill (which would have transferred ownership of maritime resources to the Fijian people) and the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which would have offered conditional pardons to persons convicted of involvement in the 2000 coup. Despite further talks in Suva and in Wellington, New Zealand, Bainimarama gave the Prime Minister Qarase an ultimatum of 4 December to accede to his demands or to resign. In a televised address, Qarase agreed to put the three race-based bills on hold, review the appointment of Andrew Hughes as police commissioner (Bainimarama had demanded his dismissal), and give the police the option of discontinuing investigations into the commander's alleged acts of sedition. He refused further concessions, saying that he had conceded all that was possible within the law.
Military manoeuvres followed, including the seizure of government vehicles and the house arrest of Prime Minister Qarase. On 5 December President
As of 9 December, there were reported arrests of members of the media and open dissenters,[17] as well as incidents of intimidation and violence committed against political figures.[17] Stuart Huggett, chairman of the Public Service Commission, was reported to have been assaulted.
Bainimarama told a press conference on 15 December that he would agree to attend a forthcoming meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs, the feudal body empowered to choose the country's president, vice-president, and fourteen of the thirty two Senators, only in his capacity as president of the Republic, the Fiji Sun reported.[18][19] Told that the Great Council still recognised Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president, he said that in that case he would boycott the meeting. He also condemned the Great Council's invitation to deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, saying that Qarase would not be allowed to return to Suva to attend the meeting.
On 6 September 2007, Bainimarama imposed a renewed state of emergency for one month, alleging that Qarase and his spokesman were spreading lies and attempting to cause destabilisation, following Qarase's return to Suva after having been confined to the island of Vanua Balavu since his ouster. Bainimarama said that Qarase and his spokesman should return to Vanuabalavu and that they could "talk from there".[20]
Bainimarama became acting
Explaining the coup
The immediate cause of the military coup was Prime Minister Qarase's refusal to withdraw the Qoliqoli Bill. Bainimarama stated that his main reasons for overthrowing the Qarase government were that it was corrupt, and that it was conducting racially discriminatory policies against the country's
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007, he stated:
"[I]n 1970, Fiji started its journey as a young nation on a rather shaky foundation, with a race-based Constitution, one which rigidly compartmentalised our communities. The 'democracy' which came to be practised in Fiji was marked by divisive, adversarial, inward-looking, race-based politics. The legacy of leadership, at both community and national levels, was a fractured nation. Fiji's people were not allowed to share a common national identity.
Of the two major communities, indigenous Fijians were instilled with fear of dominance and dispossession by Indo-Fijians, and they desired protection of their status as theindigenous people. Indo-Fijians, on the other hand, felt alienated and marginalised, as second-class citizens in their own country, the country of their birth, Fiji. [...]
Fiji's overall situation by 2006 had deteriorated sharply, heightened by massive corruption and lawlessness [...].
[P]olicies which promote racial supremacy [...] must be removed once and for all. [...] Fiji will look at making the necessary legal changes in the area of electoral reform, to ensure true equality at the polls. [...] [E]very person will be given the right to vote for only one candidate, irrespective of race or religion."[23]
This was to be achieved, he declared, through a People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, the stated aim of which was to "rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally-vibrant and united, well-governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress, and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity, and peace".[24]
In April 2009, he told The Australian's Graham Davis:
"My vision for Fiji is one that's free of racism. That's the biggest problem we've had in the last 20 years and it needs to be taken out. It's the lies that are being fed to indigenous Fijians that are causing this, especially from our chiefs who are the dominating factor in our lives. And the politicians take advantage of that. We need to change direction in a dramatic way. We need to get rid of Qarase and everything associated with the 2000 coup and begin entirely on a new path."[25]
Davis noted that Bainimarama had introduced greater ethnic diversity into senior positions, and suggested that "maybe that's what drives Bainimarama most of all; the notion, however quixotic, of a
2009 constitutional crisis
In April 2009, the Court of Appeal ruled the removal of the democratic government during his 2006 military coup was illegal. Bainimarama stepped down on 10 April 2009 as interim prime minister.[26]
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo then announced that he had abolished the constitution, assumed all governing power and revoked all judicial appointments.
After abolishing the constitution and sacking the judiciary, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo reappointed Commodore Frank Bainimarama as prime minister only 24 hours later.
On 3 November 2009, Bainimarama banished the envoys of Australia and New Zealand giving them 24 hours to leave the country.
Essential National Industries Decree
In September 2011, the Bainimarama government introduced a
Electoral victories
Bainimarama promised the return of elections and democracy in 2014, and formed a party named FijiFirst.[32] In the 2014 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won an outright majority, and Bainimarama became prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018. In the 2022 Fijian general election, FijiFirst won a plurality but was unable to form a government, meaning Bainimarama would cease to be prime-minister after 16 years of rule.[33] He was succeeded by Sitiveni Rabuka on 24 December 2022. The same day, Bainimarama was elected leader of the opposition.[34]
He has been described by some as a dictator[35][36][37] or an authoritarian,[38][39][40] although he denies these claims.[41]
Suspension from Parliament
On 17 February 2023, Bainimarama was suspended from parliament for three years after making disparaging references to President Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, as well as making treasonous comments in breach of standing orders.[42] However, he remained Opposition Leader.[43]
On 8 March 2023 Bainimarama resigned from Parliament and as leader of the opposition.[4][44]
On 9 March 2023 Bainimarama was charged with abuse of office over allegations he and police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho interfered with an investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific.[45][46] The two were released on bail the next day after pleading not guilty.[47][48] Bainimarama and Qiliho were acquitted on 12 October 2023.[49] On 14 March 2024 the High Court of Fiji overturned the acquittal and convicted Bainimarama of perverting the course of justice and Qiliho of abuse of office.[5]
Cabinet
Office | Incumbent |
---|---|
Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications[50] | Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum |
Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management and Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing[50] | Inia Seruiratu |
Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports[50] | Parveen Bala |
Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources[50] | Jone Usamate |
Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts[50] | Premila Kumar |
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment[50] | Mahendra Reddy |
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation[50] | Mereseini Vuniwaqa |
Minister for Forestry[50] | Osea Naiqamu |
Minister for Fisheries[50] | Semi Koroilavesau |
Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development[50] | Premila Kumar |
Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism & Transport[50] | Faiyaz Koya |
Minister for Health and Medical Services[50] | Ifereimi Waqainabete |
Personal life
Bainimarama hails from the village of Kiuva in the Kaba Peninsula,
Bainimarama displays above his office desk portraits of
See also
- Qoliqoli Bill
- People's Charter for Change and Progress
- List of foreign ministers in 2017
- List of current foreign ministers
- Office of the Prime Minister
References
- ^ "Fiji Parliament directory". Parliament of Fiji. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Bainimarama elected as Opposition Leader".
- ^ Fonua Talei (9 March 2023). "Inia Seruiratu To Lead Opposition To 'Keep Government In Check'". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Bainimarama resigns from Parliament". Fiji Village. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Fiji chief justice overturns not guilty verdict in Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho case". RNZ. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b "THE HON REAR ADMIRAL JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA: PRIME MINISTER". Pacific Islands Forum. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Strong military; legacy of Bainimarama". Fiji Sun. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 26 September 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama quits military post for poll run Archived 6 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 5 March 2014, retrieved 6 March 2014
- ^ a b "Bainimarama promoted to Rear Admiral". The Fiji Times. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "REBEL LEADER GEORGE SPEIGHT ARRESTED". Fiji Crisis. 27 July 2000. Archived from the original on 24 February 2003.
- ^ "Fiji: Speight reported arrested". The Guardian. 26 July 2000. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Is this the best advertised coup in history?". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji military commander holding talks with Chinese defence officials". RNZ. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Sid Marris, "Fiji coup a 'real danger', says Downer" Archived 23 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 2 November 2006.
- ^ Patrick Walters, "Howard warns against Fiji coup" Archived 8 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, The Australian, 2 November 2006.
- ^ a b "Fiji Times contributors warned by army – Fiji Times Online". Fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
- ^ [1] Archived 14 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Archived copy Archived 22 December 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Martial law declared in Fiji – again". The New Zealand Herald. 6 September 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "Fiji's military leader takes over country's finances" Archived 30 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, AFP, 18 August 2008.
- ^ "Commander RFMF – Public Declaration of Military Takeover" Archived 15 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government, 5 December 2006
- ^ "Statement by Bainimarama to the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly" (PDF). Un.org. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Building a Better Fiji for All through a People's Charter for Change and Progress" Archived 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government website, April 2007
- ^ a b c "Despot for diversity" Archived 14 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Graham Davis, The Australian, 1 May 2009
- ^ Auckland correspondent Kerri Ritchie (10 April 2009). "Fiji's Bainimarama steps down as PM". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Fiji's President Reappoints Bainimarama as Prime Minister". VOA News. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Frank Bainimarama receives Companion of the Order of Fiji from President", Agence France Presse, 24 April 2009
- ^ Decree No.35 2011 – Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree 2011 Archived 31 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Fiji government
- ^ "Union/govt face off: Decree deepens division" Archived 15 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Islands Business
- ^ "Warning on Fiji government plan to severely restrict workers' rights" Archived 8 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine , Amnesty International, 8 August 2011
- JSTOR j.ctt1bw1hc6.
- ^ Needham, Kirsty (20 December 2022). "Fiji has new government after three parties form coalition". Reuters. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Sitiveni Rabuka is Fiji's new prime minister". RNZ. 24 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "How Fijian dictator Bainimarama finally earned his mandate".
- ^ "Won by a Dictator? The 2014 General Elections in the Republic of Fiji". 14 January 2015.
- ^ "Fiji's Dictator. Frank Bainimarama's Truth Revealed" (PDF). Truth for Fiji. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- . Retrieved 6 February 2023 – via Emerald Insight.
- ^ "Is Fijian-style authoritarianism spreading?". ABC Pacific. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "'Writing on the wall' for authoritarian FijiFirst government, says Ratuva". Asia Pacific Report. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Fiji's Prime Minister Insists That He is Not a Dictator". YouTube. Asia Pacific Report.
- ^ "Bainimarama suspended from parliament for 3 years". Fiji Village. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "'Bainimarama remains as Leader of the Opposition'". Fiji Times. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
- ^ "Suspended Bainimarama resigns from Parliament". Fiji Times. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Fiji police charge former prime minister Frank Bainimarama with abuse of office". ABC News. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ "Former Fiji PM Bainimarama and suspended top cop charged". RNZ. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- ^ Ashna Kumar (10 March 2023). "Bainimarama And Qiliho Released On Bail". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Ashna Kumar (10 March 2023). "Qiliho And Bainimarama Pleads Not Guilty". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
- ^ Vucukula, Elena (12 October 2023). "Court frees Bainimarama, Qiliho of all charges". The Fiji Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Ministers | Office of the Prime Minister Fiji". Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Catholics support Methodists – Fiji Times Online". Fijitimes.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
- ^ Singh, Zanzeer (1 June 2014). "Bainimarama elected FRU president". The Fiji Times Online. Fiji Times Limited. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
PRIME Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama is the new president of the Fiji Rugby Union. [...] He was elected unopposed at the Fiji Rugby Union annual general meeting in Nadi yesterday.
- ^ Noble, Phil (12 February 2022). "Fiji Leader Bainimarama A No-show For Visit By Top US Diplomat". Barrons. AFP-Agence France Presse. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Anthony, Kelvin (7 February 2022). "Fiji's PM needs 'time to recuperate' says govt". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ Anthony, Kelvin. "Bainimarama returns to Fiji after heart surgery". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- NewstalkZB. 31 July 2012.
- ^ "Anger over plan to remove Queen from Fiji money". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 December 2012.
External links
- Republic of Fiji Military Forces website
- Bainimarama's speech, 5 December 2006: the stated reasons for the coup
- Commodore Bainimarama's address to the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 28 September 2007 (video)
- Commodore Bainimarama's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 26 September 2008
- Frank, Uncensored, ABC documentary by Philippa McDonald, 3 August 2010.