Fijian general election, 2009
Encyclopedia
General elections were, until recently, scheduled to be held in Fiji
in March 2009. They are now expected to be held by September 2014.
that occurred on 5 December 2006, it was announced that elections would be held "hopefully in 12 months, two years" by the new interim prime minister
Jona Senilagakali
. Later it was made clear that none of the ministers in the interim government would be allowed to contest the elections.
On 29 January 2007, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
, the coup leader and now the interim Prime Minister (having formally replaced Senilagakali on 6 January 2007) announced that the next election would be around five years away. He informed a visiting regional delegation on 30-31 January that elections would have to wait until a census
had been complete, a new voters' roll compiled, and boundaries of electoral districts defined. Meanwhile, interim Attorney-General
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
suggested using electronic voting
to shorten the period of time for counting votes (currently over ten days), and thereby reduce the potential for election rigging.
Later, Bainimarama announced that the election system would be changed to abolish the race-based constituencies and that elections would be held in 2010. It was later clarified that the interim administration has no mandate for electoral and constitutional reform, as such changes have to go through the parliamentary process; as such, the 2010 election will be held under the current race-based system, but Bainimarama stated he wished that the next government change the electoral system. In mid-June 2007, the Bainimarama gave in to demands from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to hold polls by 28 February 2009; he also requested assistance with election preparations.
The deposed PM Laisenia Qarase
stated he would contest the elections.
By contrast, Bainimarama said that he has no intention of taking part in the election.
In March 2008, responding to regional pressure for concrete evidence of his commitment to hold elections in 2009, Bainimarama argued:
In April 2008, Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
stated that it was necessary to complete and implement the People's Charter for Change and Progress before any elections are held. In May
, Commodore Bainimarama stated that elections would not be held in March 2009 unless politicians agreed to the Charter.
Ousted Vice-President
Ratu
Joni Madraiwiwi
has remarked that the next election is likely to be won by a "a Fijian-dominated political party" (meaning indigenous-dominated), and has asked what the military would do in such a case.
Bainimarama has stated that Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
party will be authorised to take part in the election, but that, if elected, Qarase would have to abide by the People's Charter. He would not be authorised to introduce or re-introduce policies -such as the Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill- which Bainimarama perceives as racist. The commodore warned Qarase publicly that doing so would result in a new coup: "If you do it, I'll remove you." In March 2010, however, Bainimarama stated that "any politician who has played a role in the country's politics, since 1987" will be prevented from standing for election. The rationale was that "Fiji needs new politicians".
The Charter would serve as a guideline in this respect. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
has stated that "the People’s Charter sets a trend or course for which the people of Fiji should actually assess political parties on and political parties that are essentially try [sic] to contest elections purely based on ethnic politics would not be entertained by the people of Fiji".
, which would eliminate institutionalised ethnic-based voting. The new Constitution might also amend the number of seats in Parliament, and possibly abolish the Senate.
In February 2010, a petition requesting elections by the end of the year was reportedly supported by 600,000 signatories and presented to the government. Commodore Bainimarama responded that an early election would not be "practical and realistic": "The implementation of the fundamental changes and reforms captured in the People’s Charter
and which are now being implemented under the framework of the Roadmap – this is the only plan – or priority for Fiji. It is a plan that is objective of a better Fiji - where all benefit and not just the elite few – as has been the case previously." He dismissed what he called "irresponsible demands and proposals of selfish individuals and groups that run counter to the Charter and the road-map".
In March 2011, New Zealand Foreign minister Murray McCully
announced New Zealand would lift its travel ban on members of the Fiji administration if the government committed to holding elections in 2014, and allowing "all stakeholders [...] to participate and not only those favoured by the regime". Until then, New Zealand had insisted on earlier elections. Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu
Inoke Kubuabola
replied the Fiji government was "committed to ensuring that a good and fair election is conducted" in 2014.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
in March 2009. They are now expected to be held by September 2014.
Context: Scheduling a return to democracy
After the military coup2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
that occurred on 5 December 2006, it was announced that elections would be held "hopefully in 12 months, two years" by the new interim prime minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Jona Senilagakali
Jona Senilagakali
Dr Jona Baravilala Senilagakali was a medical doctor and diplomat who was seventh Prime Minister of Fiji. He resigned as Prime Minister on 5 January 2007, but on 8 January he was appointed interim Minister for Health...
. Later it was made clear that none of the ministers in the interim government would be allowed to contest the elections.
On 29 January 2007, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, the coup leader and now the interim Prime Minister (having formally replaced Senilagakali on 6 January 2007) announced that the next election would be around five years away. He informed a visiting regional delegation on 30-31 January that elections would have to wait until a census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
had been complete, a new voters' roll compiled, and boundaries of electoral districts defined. Meanwhile, interim Attorney-General
Attorney-General (Fiji)
Fiji's chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. According to the Constitution of Fiji, the Attorney-General is required to be a qualified lawyer and sits in the Cabinet. The office of the Attorney-General is the oldest surviving executive office in Fiji, having been established...
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Fiji's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications...
suggested using electronic voting
Electronic voting
Electronic voting is a term encompassing several different types of voting, embracing both electronic means of casting a vote and electronic means of counting votes....
to shorten the period of time for counting votes (currently over ten days), and thereby reduce the potential for election rigging.
Later, Bainimarama announced that the election system would be changed to abolish the race-based constituencies and that elections would be held in 2010. It was later clarified that the interim administration has no mandate for electoral and constitutional reform, as such changes have to go through the parliamentary process; as such, the 2010 election will be held under the current race-based system, but Bainimarama stated he wished that the next government change the electoral system. In mid-June 2007, the Bainimarama gave in to demands from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to hold polls by 28 February 2009; he also requested assistance with election preparations.
The deposed PM Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
stated he would contest the elections.
By contrast, Bainimarama said that he has no intention of taking part in the election.
In March 2008, responding to regional pressure for concrete evidence of his commitment to hold elections in 2009, Bainimarama argued:
- “Elections are central to democracy but they are not always, on their own, a magic or quick-fix solution. How can an election, on its own, make a difference when it is based on divisive and race based communal electoral arrangements? How can an election, on its own, solve the deep differences that our constitutionConstitution of FijiThe 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
has perpetuated between the different races in our country? Unless there are fundamental reforms, how can an election succeed where it will take us straight back to the grimy old politics of self interest, cronyism and scam mongering?”
In April 2008, Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
stated that it was necessary to complete and implement the People's Charter for Change and Progress before any elections are held. In May
May 2008
May 2008 was the fifth month of that year. It began on a Thursday and ended after 31 days on a Saturday.-International holidays:*May 1**Holocaust Remembrance Day **May Day **Ascension Day **Labour Day in the following countries:...
, Commodore Bainimarama stated that elections would not be held in March 2009 unless politicians agreed to the Charter.
Ousted Vice-President
Vice-President of Fiji
The Fijian vice-presidency is a mostly ceremonial office. The position was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the President, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties...
Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
has remarked that the next election is likely to be won by a "a Fijian-dominated political party" (meaning indigenous-dominated), and has asked what the military would do in such a case.
Bainimarama has stated that Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua is a political party in Fiji...
party will be authorised to take part in the election, but that, if elected, Qarase would have to abide by the People's Charter. He would not be authorised to introduce or re-introduce policies -such as the Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill- which Bainimarama perceives as racist. The commodore warned Qarase publicly that doing so would result in a new coup: "If you do it, I'll remove you." In March 2010, however, Bainimarama stated that "any politician who has played a role in the country's politics, since 1987" will be prevented from standing for election. The rationale was that "Fiji needs new politicians".
The Charter would serve as a guideline in this respect. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Fiji's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications...
has stated that "the People’s Charter sets a trend or course for which the people of Fiji should actually assess political parties on and political parties that are essentially try [sic] to contest elections purely based on ethnic politics would not be entertained by the people of Fiji".
Elections to be held by 2014
In April 2009, the government announced that elections would be held "by September 2014". Bainimarama reiterated this in July, specififying that the elections would be held under the provisions of a new ConstitutionConstitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
, which would eliminate institutionalised ethnic-based voting. The new Constitution might also amend the number of seats in Parliament, and possibly abolish the Senate.
In February 2010, a petition requesting elections by the end of the year was reportedly supported by 600,000 signatories and presented to the government. Commodore Bainimarama responded that an early election would not be "practical and realistic": "The implementation of the fundamental changes and reforms captured in the People’s Charter
People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress
The People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress is a proposed legal document which would complement the Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands. It would establish compulsory guidelines for any government policy in Fiji over the coming years...
and which are now being implemented under the framework of the Roadmap – this is the only plan – or priority for Fiji. It is a plan that is objective of a better Fiji - where all benefit and not just the elite few – as has been the case previously." He dismissed what he called "irresponsible demands and proposals of selfish individuals and groups that run counter to the Charter and the road-map".
In March 2011, New Zealand Foreign minister Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
announced New Zealand would lift its travel ban on members of the Fiji administration if the government committed to holding elections in 2014, and allowing "all stakeholders [...] to participate and not only those favoured by the regime". Until then, New Zealand had insisted on earlier elections. Fiji Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Inoke Kubuabola
Inoke Kubuabola
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is a Fijian politician who served as Leader of the Opposition in 1999 and 2000. He became leader of the Fijian Political Party following its defeat in the 1999 election and the subsequent resignation of its leader, the defeated Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, from Parliament...
replied the Fiji government was "committed to ensuring that a good and fair election is conducted" in 2014.
See also
- People's Charter for Change and Progress