The position of the vice-president of the Republic of Fiji was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the

president of Fiji The president of Fiji is the List of heads of state of Fiji, head of state of the Fiji, Republic of Fiji. The president is appointed by the Parliament of Fiji, Parliament for a three-year term under the terms of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji, ...

, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties. The vice-president's role in government was mostly ceremonial as its sole purpose was to replace the president in his absence, death, or inability to hold office. The vice-presidency was abolished in 2013, with the powers of the office transferred to the

Chief Justice of Fiji The chief justice is the Republic of Fiji's highest judiciary, judicial officer. The office and its responsibilities are set out in Chapter 5 of the 2013 Constitution of Fiji. The chief justice is appointed by the President of Fiji, president ...

, who has a

dormant commission A dormant commission is a commission in a Commonwealth realm that lies dormant or sleeping until a particular event triggers it. A commission in this case means an appointment to a particular government office, which the reigning monarch of the ...

which is triggered when the position of President of Fiji is either vacant or when the President is either absent or ill.

History of the office

Under the terms the 1990 Constitution of Fiji, the vice-presidency was divided between two persons, styled First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, respectively, but a single person held the office of vice-president from 1999, when the 1997 Constitution of Fiji came into effect. Under the terms of the 1997 Constitution, the vice-president was appointed by the

Great Council of Chiefs The Great Council of Chiefs () is a Fijian constitutional body. It previously existed from 1876 to March 2012 and was restored in May 2023. It is different from the House of Chiefs, a larger body that includes all hereditary chiefs, although m ...

, after consultation with the

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

. In April 2009, however, the Constitution was suspended, following the earlier suspension of the Great Council of Chiefs in April 2007. Six days after the suspension of the Constitution, the government issued a decree stating that the vice-president would henceforth be appointed by the president. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was appointed vice-president the following day. Under the terms of the 2013 Constitution, the vice-presidency was abolished, with its duties and powers transferred to the chief justice. Being appointees of the all-indigenous Great Council of Chiefs, Fiji's vice-presidents, like its presidents, have all been indigenous Fijians ( of chiefly rank). In 2007, Reverend Akuila Yabaki, Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, suggested that "the time may be right now to allow a person from any race to take up this position"."Promote multi-racism in Fiji"
Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 30 December 2007

Vice-presidents

Vice-presidents (single office)

, - style="text-align:center;" , colspan=8, ''Vacant (29 May 2000 – 25 March 2001)'' , - style="text-align:center;" , colspan=8, ''Vacant (5 December 2006 – 17 April 2009)'' , - style="text-align:center;" , colspan=8, ''Vacant (30 July 2009 – 6 September 2013)'' , - style="text-align:center;" , colspan=8, ''Abolished (6 September 2013 – present)''

References

{{Fiji topics

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

Vice-President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

1990 establishments in Fiji 2013 disestablishments in Fiji