The embattled former prime minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama has announced his resignation from the Pacific nation’s parliament, which has already suspended him for three years.
The 68-year-old, in a post on his FijiFirst Party’s Facebook page, said he had tendered his resignation “with immediate effect” but had no intention of resigning from politics.
Recall that Bainimarama had led Fiji since a bloodless coup in 2006 and governed until being replaced as prime minister following a closely contested general election last December.
It could also be recalled that in February, parliament suspended the opposition leader until 2026 after a speech in which he criticised his successor, Sitiveni Rabuka, and president Wiliame Katonivere.
The embattled Bainimarama accused Mr Katonivere of failing to protect the constitution, which he said was “being stripped away almost on a daily basis” by Rabuka’s new government.
In view of the development, he was forced to apologise to the Fijian public as a condition of his suspension from parliament.
In his recent statement, Bainimarama described his three-year suspension for breaching parliamentary procedure as “unwarranted and most certainly unjustified”.
“However, the decision has been made by parliament through [a] vote and I have complied with the decision,” he added.
It was clarified that Bainimarama will remain leader of FijiFirst but has resigned so his opposition party will retain “at all times” its 26 seats in the country’s 55-seat parliament.
He added that “This is to ensure that we keep the three-uneven-legged stool in check,” referring Rabuka’s coalition government.
It was stated that his parliamentary seat will be filled by a FijiFirst politician. Bainimarama said the party would nominate one of his former ministers, Inia Seruiratu, as the new opposition leader at the next sitting.
While noting that he would remain strongly involved in the country’s political scene, he said “I want to assure all our supporters and all Fijians that you will be seeing more of me on the ground as I engage with you to listen to your needs, wants and concerns”.
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