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Fiji constitution

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Fijian PM Rabuka hints at ‘historic’ referendum after landmark court ruling

September 1, 2025

By Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital/social lead Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has hinted that the country may “hold its first-ever referendum” following a landmark Supreme Court opinion aimed at amending the 2013 Constitution. On Friday, the nation’s highest court ruled that thresholds for constitutional amendments should be lowered — requiring only a two-thirds majority ... <a title="Fijian PM Rabuka hints at ‘historic’ referendum after landmark court ruling" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/09/01/fijian-pm-rabuka-hints-at-historic-referendum-after-landmark-court-ruling/" aria-label="Read more about Fijian PM Rabuka hints at ‘historic’ referendum after landmark court ruling">Read more</a>

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Fiji’s Bainimarama granted bail, ordered to remain in country

March 10, 2023

RNZ Pacific Fiji’s former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho have been granted bail. Both men have pleaded not guilty to one count each of abuse of office. Magistrate Seini Puamau has set bail at FJ$10,000 (NZ$7,000), according to local news media reports. Bainimarama and Qiliho have also been ordered not ... <a title="Fiji’s Bainimarama granted bail, ordered to remain in country" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/03/10/fijis-bainimarama-granted-bail-ordered-to-remain-in-country/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s Bainimarama granted bail, ordered to remain in country">Read more</a>

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Richard Naidu: It’s your freedom – so speak up and step up

February 6, 2023

COMMENTARY: By Richard Naidu in Suva Five weeks on from Christmas Eve, I think most of us are still a bit stunned at what has happened in Fiji. A new government came to power in dramatic circumstances. It took not one but two Sodelpa management board meetings to change it, with razor-thin margins. The same ... <a title="Richard Naidu: It’s your freedom – so speak up and step up" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/06/richard-naidu-its-your-freedom-so-speak-up-and-step-up/" aria-label="Read more about Richard Naidu: It’s your freedom – so speak up and step up">Read more</a>

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Sort out the uncertain Fiji military constitutional role, says professor

February 1, 2023

RNZ Pacific A New Zealand-based professor in comparative politics says the Fiji constitution needs to clear up the role of the military. Dr Jon Fraenkel of Victoria University, formerly of the University of the South Pacific, says the 2013 constitution revived the provision that existed in the 1990 constitution which gave the military responsibility for ... <a title="Sort out the uncertain Fiji military constitutional role, says professor" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/02/01/sort-out-the-uncertain-fiji-military-constitutional-role-says-professor/" aria-label="Read more about Sort out the uncertain Fiji military constitutional role, says professor">Read more</a>

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Aiyaz ‘trying to mislead the people’ over use of term Fijian, says AG

January 26, 2023

By Meri Radinibaravi in Suva Fiji’s Constitution does not require everything related to the government to be called Fijian, says Attorney-General Siromi Turaga. Speaking during a media conference, he said there was no right or wrong way to describe a title or name a government. He said FijiFirst party general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was trying ... <a title="Aiyaz ‘trying to mislead the people’ over use of term Fijian, says AG" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/26/aiyaz-trying-to-mislead-the-people-over-use-of-term-fijian-says-ag/" aria-label="Read more about Aiyaz ‘trying to mislead the people’ over use of term Fijian, says AG">Read more</a>

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Who broke the law in Fiji? – Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum

January 24, 2023

By Rakesh Kumar in Suva Politicians can respond to the political rhetoric but claims that the new Fiji government has broken the law are a more serious matter, says prominent Suva lawyer Richard Naidu. Reacting to FijiFirst general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s claims that there have been a number of incursions into the separation of powers ... <a title="Who broke the law in Fiji? – Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/24/who-broke-the-law-in-fiji-naidu-responds-to-sayed-khaiyum/" aria-label="Read more about Who broke the law in Fiji? – Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum">Read more</a>

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‘Claims a serious matter’ – lawyer Richard Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum’s attack

January 23, 2023

ANALYSIS: By Richard Naidu Who’s broken the law? “Separation of powers” and all that stuff. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s hour-long news conference on Saturday, January 21, seems mostly to have followed the usual FijiFirst party format. He pontificated at length while his party’s MPs stood silently behind him. From what I could tell, Sayed-Khaiyum’s speech was a ... <a title="‘Claims a serious matter’ – lawyer Richard Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum’s attack" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/23/claims-a-serious-matter-lawyer-richard-naidu-responds-to-sayed-khaiyums-attack/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Claims a serious matter’ – lawyer Richard Naidu responds to Sayed-Khaiyum’s attack">Read more</a>

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FijiFirst seems to be ‘confused’ over role of Aiyaz, says Naidu

January 6, 2023

By Felix Chaudhary in Suva The opposition FijiFirst party still “seems to be confused” about the role of its general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says prominent Suva lawyer Richard Naidu. “Mr Sayed-Khaiyum appears to have triggered his exit from Parliament by accepting a position on the Constitutional Offices Commission,” he said. “That means he is a ... <a title="FijiFirst seems to be ‘confused’ over role of Aiyaz, says Naidu" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/06/fijifirst-seems-to-be-confused-over-role-of-aiyaz-says-naidu/" aria-label="Read more about FijiFirst seems to be ‘confused’ over role of Aiyaz, says Naidu">Read more</a>

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Fiji’s PM Rabuka hits back: ‘We’ve every right to appoint and disappoint’

January 4, 2023

By Serafina Silaitoga in Suva Fiji’s coalition government has every right to “appoint and disappoint” under the 2013 Constitution, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. While responding to opposition Leader and former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s call to the coalition government to follow the 2013 Constitution in dealing with the employment of permanent secretaries, Rabuka said ... <a title="Fiji’s PM Rabuka hits back: ‘We’ve every right to appoint and disappoint’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/01/04/fijis-pm-rabuka-hits-back-weve-every-right-to-appoint-and-disappoint/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s PM Rabuka hits back: ‘We’ve every right to appoint and disappoint’">Read more</a>

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Fiji elections: Alliance leads early vote tally – Bainimarama heads candidates

December 16, 2022

By Timoci Vula in Suva The People’s Alliance Party took an early lead in the Fiji general election vote tally this evening with a total of 21,810 votes recorded after the completion of counting from 470 of the 2071 polling stations. The governing FijiFirst Party was in second place with 16,515 votes and SODELPA running ... <a title="Fiji elections: Alliance leads early vote tally – Bainimarama heads candidates" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/12/16/fiji-elections-alliance-leads-early-vote-tally-bainimarama-heads-candidates/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji elections: Alliance leads early vote tally – Bainimarama heads candidates">Read more</a>

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Fiji’s Biman Prasad calls out ‘dire straits’ Bainimarama government

April 18, 2022

By Venkat Raman in Auckland Fiji’s National Federation Party leader and Member of Parliament Dr Biman Prasad is confident that the incumbent Voreqe Bainimarama government will be defeated in this year’s general election, because — as he says — “People have had enough; they want a change”. Speaking to the media in Auckland on Wednesday, ... <a title="Fiji’s Biman Prasad calls out ‘dire straits’ Bainimarama government" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/04/18/fijis-biman-prasad-calls-out-dire-straits-bainimarama-government/" aria-label="Read more about Fiji’s Biman Prasad calls out ‘dire straits’ Bainimarama government">Read more</a>

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Prasad confident ‘fed up’ Fijians will make a change in this year’s election

April 15, 2022

Asia Pacific Report newsdesk Opposition National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad is confident there will be a change of government in Fiji this year and his party will be part of the new line-up giving the people a genuine choice for an optimistic future. “The people of Fiji are fed up with the lies ... <a title="Prasad confident ‘fed up’ Fijians will make a change in this year’s election" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2022/04/15/prasad-confident-fed-up-fijians-will-make-a-change-in-this-years-election/" aria-label="Read more about Prasad confident ‘fed up’ Fijians will make a change in this year’s election">Read more</a>