President Jioji Konrote elected and reappointed as President of Fiji

President Jioji Konrote has been elected and reappointed as the President of Fiji for the next three years.

President Konrote was elected unopposed after being nominated by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as SODELPA parliamentarians walked out of parliament and decided not to participate in the election and appointment of the President.

The three National Federation Party parliamentarians stayed on for the election and reappointment.

SODELPA MPs seen leaving Parliament

The session started with SODELPA MP Semesa Karavaki raising a point of order, saying that this is a premature process since there is no vacancy for the President.

Karavaki says there is no constitutional crisis and the President can still issue the Writ of Elections when the current parliament’s term expires on the 6th of October.

He went on to say that they should have sought the interpretation of this from the Supreme Court.

SODELPA MP Semesa Karavaki

Speaker of Parliament Doctor Jiko Luveni says that given the President will play a major role in issuing the Writ of Elections for the next general elections, we cannot have a vacancy for the position.

Speaker of Parliament Doctor Jiko Luveni

Doctor Luveni also says the process in parliament has been complied with under the constitution.

Speaking to Fijivillage after the reappointment of President Jioji Konrote for another three years, Prime Minister Bainimarama said that the walkout by the SODELPA parliamentarians was disrespectful to the President and a major disservice to the people of Fiji.

The Prime Minister also says that the President has done a wonderful job and the opposition should get on with life rather than talking about bringing back the Great Council of Chiefs.

NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad said that they fully supported the reappointment of President Konrote.

He also confirms that there was no discussion on the nomination of a President with Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa.