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Fiji

Monthly Updates

January 2023

The new Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has approved the use of vernacular languages - Hindi and iTaukei - during parliament sittings. In addition, the government promises to ensure focus on the teaching, promotion and preservation of vernacular languages in the country.

December 2022

After a week of tense and uncertain coalition negotiations and worries that the outgoing prime minister would not leave peacefully, the Fijian parliament voted to elect Sitiveni Rabuka prime minister, replacing former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who had taken power in a 2006 coup. Rabuka, who also led two coups in 1987 and was previously elected prime minister in 1992, and his People’s Alliance Party finished with 36 per cent of the vote behind Bainimarama’s FijiFirst party with 42.5 percent. The People’s Alliance Party secured the support of smaller parties to gain the premiership. The campaign was contested on both socioeconomic issues and concerns over the future of Fijian democratic institutions, specifically the fear of future coups. Observers and media noted numerous irregularities throughout the electoral cycle. Women’s representation declined from 11 of 51 to 6 of 55 seats in parliament, and voter turnout was 68.3 per cent.

October 2022

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced Fiji would hold national elections on 14 December, after months of criticism from the opposition over the lack of a date for the regularly scheduled election. Both Bainimarama and his opponent Sitiveni Rabuka have led military coups, and the last transfer of executive power via an election took place in 1999. The most recent election was largely clean, but international observers are concerned about a further entrenchment of authoritarianism and decay of democratic norms. Opposition political parties have warned of legal intimidation and accused the government of the abuse of administrative resources, such as vote buying. 

Explore past monthly updates

GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
902 900
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka (since 2022)
Head of government party
The People's Alliance
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
19.6%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
3.11
Head of state
President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
06/11/2019
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
85.54%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
0 10