Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster -based parliamentary system . This article uses the term government as it is used in Parliamentary systems, i.e. meaning the administration or the cabinet rather than the state . In some countries, the title of " Official Opposition " is conferred upon the largest political party sitting in opposition in the legislature, with said party's leader being accorded the title " Leader of the Opposition ".
31-570: Opposition (26) 18°08′45″S 178°25′28″E / 18.145858°S 178.424413°E / -18.145858; 178.424413 The Parliament of the Republic of Fiji is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Fiji . It consists of 55 members elected every 4 years using open list proportional representation in one multi-member nationwide constituency. The Fijian Parliament dates from 10 October 1970, when Fiji became independent from
62-604: A Senatorial veto by passing the bill a second time in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate, after a minimum period of six months. Amendments to the Constitution were excepted: the veto of the Senate was absolute. Following the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives, the Senate had 21 days (7 days in the case of a bill classified as "urgent") to approve, amend, or reject it; if at
93-530: A new Constitution , 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, reportedly supported by 600,000 signatories, requested elections by the end of the year. Commodore Bainimarama responded that an early election would not be "practical and realistic": "The implementation of
124-524: A single-chamber 50-member Parliament. Section 54(2) of the Constitution requires the Fiji Electoral Commission to review the composition of the parliament at least one year before a general election and may if necessary increase or decrease the total number of members. In its review the commission will ensure that ratio of members to the population is the same as the ratio at the date of the first general election under this Constitution. Furthermore,
155-424: A united bloc opposed to the government of the day. Some well-organised democracies, dominated long-term by a single faction, reduce their parliamentary opposition to tokenism . In some cases, in more authoritarian countries, tame "opposition" parties are created by the governing groups in order to create an impression of democratic debate. Some legislatures offer opposition parties particular powers. In Canada ,
186-572: Is allowed to print or post any election material which insinuates campaigning. Almost 590,000 citizens registered to vote in the elections. 57,084 voters were registered to vote in Lautoka at 141 polling stations. Seven parties registered to contest the elections, with a total of 248 candidates nominated, of which two were independents. The election was endorsed as "credible" by international observers, including by Australia , Indonesia and New Zealand . Some shortcomings were however noted, such as
217-574: Is seeing whether everyone is allowed to compete, and the media and civil society are able to operate in a minimally unimpeded manner." Finally, on 23 March 2014, the Fiji government announced that the elections would take place on 17 September of that year, a day to be declared a national holiday. A media blackout on campaign activities ran from Monday to Wednesday, the election day. The ban included newspapers, radio, television, campaign poster and social media posts by any Fijian. The elections were held using
248-449: The People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress . Between 2009 and 2014 several public announcements and requests were made for elections, and on 23 March 2014 the interim government announced the elections would be held on 17 September 2014. The elections were to be held under the new constitution which lowered the voting age to 18 and gave the right of multiple citizenship to Fijians for
279-593: The United Kingdom , and New Zealand , 20 days each year are set aside as " Opposition Days " or "Supply Days", during which the opposition gets to set the agenda. Canada also has a Question Period , during which the opposition (and the Parliament generally) can ask questions of government ministers. 2014 Fijian general election Frank Bainimarama Independent Frank Bainimarama FijiFirst General elections were held in Fiji on 17 September 2014 to select
310-598: The United Kingdom . The Parliament replaced the former colonial legislative body, the Legislative Council , which had existed in various forms throughout the entire colonial period. A grandfather clause in the 1970 Constitution, which was adopted on independence, provided for the old Legislative Council to be renamed as the House of Representatives and remain in office, pending the first post-independence elections in 1972. Since independence, Parliamentary rule has been interrupted three times. The first interruption
341-492: The open list form of party-list proportional representation using the D'Hondt method in one nationwide constituency consisting of 50 seats. There is a threshold of 5% of the vote for a list to gain representation. Pre-polling for the elections began two weeks prior to the main election date to cater for those unable to travel long distances to cast their vote. It ended on 15 September. A 48-hour blackout period began soon after, during which no media, including print or social,
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#1732852513120372-456: The tendency to gravitate into two major parties or party groupings operates strongly, government and opposition roles can go to the two main groupings serially in alternation. The more proportionally representative a system, the greater the likelihood of multiple political parties appearing in the parliamentary debating chamber . Such systems can foster multiple "opposition" parties which may have little in common and minimal desire to form
403-499: The 50 members of Parliament . The FijiFirst party, led by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama , won a landslide victory , winning 32 of the 50 seats. The Social Democratic Liberal Party and the National Federation Party were the only other two parties to cross the 5% electoral threshold and win seats. The elections had originally been scheduled for March 2009, but were delayed because politicians did not agree to
434-609: The Charter and the road-map". In March 2011 the New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced that 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 that
465-422: The Charter. Ousted Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi remarked that the next election would likely be won by "a Fijian-dominated political party" ( meaning indigenous-dominated ), and asked what the military would do in such a case. Bainimarama stated that Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party would be authorised to take part in the election, but that, if elected, Qarase would have to abide by
496-565: The Fiji government was "committed to ensuring that a good and fair election is conducted" in 2014. On 30 June 2012 voter registration for the 2014 elections began in Suva. A few days later a Western diplomat confirmed that Fiji was on-schedule for elections in 2014: "It seems fairly clear now that there will be elections of some description in Fiji in 2014. The real question is the extent to which those elections meet minimal international standards for being free and fair. Crucial to answering that question
527-588: 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 perceived to be racist. Bainimarama 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" would be prevented from standing for election. The rationale
558-487: The commission is required to consider the most recent census, the Register of Voters or any other official information available when undertaking its review. Accordingly, the Parliament had 50 seats up for election in 2014 , 51 in 2018 , and 55 in 2022 . The Parliament of Fiji consists of 55 members (plus a speaker) and is led by the prime minister , who is the leader of the largest party of government. The current Parliament
589-474: The coup, succeeded Senilagakali as interim Prime Minister. On 29 January 2007, Bainimarama 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 completed, a new voters' roll compiled, and boundaries of electoral districts defined. Meanwhile, interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum suggested using electronic voting to shorten
620-588: The elections. By contrast, Bainimarama said that he had 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 holding any elections. In May, Commodore Bainimarama said that elections would not take place in March 2009 unless politicians agreed to
651-406: The expiry of that period the Senate had done nothing about it, it was deemed to have passed the bill. As a result of the parliament building having only one debating chamber , the Senate and House of Representatives used the same chamber at different times. The 2013 Constitution promulgated by the military-backed interim government abolished the Senate and the House of Representatives, instituting
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#1732852513120682-460: The first time. After the Fijian military coup of 5 December 2006, the new interim prime minister Jona Senilagakali announced that elections would take place held "hopefully in 12 months, two years". Later the military regime made it clear that none of the ministers in the interim government would be allowed to contest the elections. On 6 January 2007 Commodore Frank Bainimarama , the leader of
713-489: 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
744-739: The government again in 2006 . No further elections would be held until the September 2014 election . The composition of Parliament has changed over the years. From 1972 to 1987, there were 52 Representatives and 22 Senators. In 1992, Parliament was enlarged to 70 Representatives and 34 Senators, figures marginally adjusted in 1999 to provide for 71 Representatives and 32 Senators. 25 of these were elected by universal suffrage . The remaining 46 were reserved for Fiji's ethnic communities and were elected from communal electoral rolls: 23 Fijians , 19 Indo-Fijians , 1 Rotuman , and 3 " General electors " (Europeans, Chinese, and other minorities ). The upper chamber of
775-883: The parliament, the Senate , had 32 members, formally appointed by the President on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs (14), the Prime Minister (9), the Leader of the Opposition (8), and the Rotuman Islands Council (1). The Senate was less powerful than the House of Representatives; the Senate could not initiate legislation, but it could reject or amend it. The Senate's powers over financial bills were more restricted: it could veto them in their entirety, but could not amend them. The House of Representatives could override
806-527: The parliamentary process; as such, the proposed 2010 election would take place under the current race-based system, but Bainimarama stated he wished the next government to change the electoral system. In mid-June 2007, 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 Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase , stated he would contest
837-558: The people of Fiji". Despite his earlier commitment not to run, Bainimarama founded and led the Fiji First party into the election. Mahendra Chaudhry was ruled to be ineligible to stand for election. In April 2009 the Fijian government announced that elections would take place "by September 2014". Bainimarama reiterated this in July, specifying that the elections would be held under the provisions of
868-425: The period of time for counting votes (previously over ten days), and thereby reduce the potential for election rigging. Later, Bainimarama announced changes to the electoral system that would abolish the race-based constituencies and that elections would take place 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
899-547: Was elected in the 2022 election , with a coalition of the People's Alliance , the National Federation Party (NFP), and the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) holding a majority of 29 seats. FijiFirst , led by Frank Bainimarama , holds 26 seats and is the sole opposition party. The current prime minister is Sitiveni Rabuka . The salary of the speaker is FJ$ 150,000 annually. Parliamentary opposition In first-past-the-post assemblies, where
930-444: Was from 1987 through 1992, owing to two coups d'état in 1987 instigated by Lieutenant Colonel Sitiveni Rabuka . The second interruption occurred when a coup in 2000 attempted by George Speight rendered the parliamentary system unworkable and resulted in Parliament's dissolution. A general election in 2001 restored the democratic system. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces under the leadership of Frank Bainimarama overthrew
961-402: Was that "Fiji needs new politicians". The Charter would serve as a guideline in this respect. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum 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