- Byname of:
- Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama
- Born:
- April 27, 1954, Kiuva, Fiji (age 72)
- Title / Office:
- prime minister (2014-), Fiji
Frank Bainimarama
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Who is Frank Bainimarama?
Frank Bainimarama, born on April 27, 1954, is a Fijian military leader who led the 2006 coup. This action resulted in him becoming the acting president (2006–07) and later the acting prime minister (2007–14) of Fiji.
Bainimarama officially took office as prime minister in September 2014, following his victory in the country’s first elections since the coup. He served in this role until December 2022.
Earlier in his career, Bainimarama joined the Fijian navy in 1975, eventually becoming commander, captain, and chief of staff. In 1999, he was appointed commodore and commander of all Fiji’s military forces.
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Which country did Frank Bainimarama lead as prime minister?
Frank Bainimarama was the leader of Fiji, where he led a 2006 coup and served as acting president (2006–07) and later acting prime minister (2007–2014). Following his victory in Fiji’s first elections since the coup, he was officially sworn in as prime minister in September 2014. He served in this role until December 2022. Bainimarama had a long career in the Fijian navy, rising to become commander, captain, and chief of staff before becoming commander of all Fiji’s military forces.
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When did Frank Bainimarama become prime minister of Fiji?
Frank Bainimarama became acting prime minister of Fiji in 2007 after a 2006 coup. He initially took power as acting president (2006–07) before being sworn in as acting prime minister in January 2007. Bainimarama formally took office as prime minister on September 22, 2014, following his victory in the country’s first elections since the coup. He served until December 2022.
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How did Frank Bainimarama become the leader of Fiji?
Frank Bainimarama became the leader of Fiji following a 2006 coup. Bainimarama, then commander of Fiji's military forces, had long-standing disagreements with Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, particularly over the perceived lenient treatment of those involved in the 2000 coup.
In December 2006, Bainimarama's troops seized control, dissolving parliament. He then deposed President Iloilo to become acting president. In January 2007, he reinstated Iloilo as president and became interim prime minister. Though a 2009 court ruling declared his government illegal, he was reappointed and remained in power until winning the 2014 elections, after which he was officially sworn in as prime minister.
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What are some major changes Frank Bainimarama made while he was in office?
Frank Bainimarama, who became acting president and later acting prime minister of Fiji after a 2006 coup, implemented significant changes during his time in office. In April 2007, he dissolved the Great Council of Chiefs, an administrative body of traditional chiefs. In early March 2012, Bainimarama announced a plan to create a new constitution, which would include an independent judiciary and transparent governance, ahead of the 2014 elections. Approximately a week later, he abolished the Bose Levu Vakaturaga, calling that body an outdated and divisive relic of the British colonial era. A new constitution came into effect on September 7, 2013.
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What challenges and controversies did Frank Bainimarama face as prime minister?
Frank Bainimarama, who was officially sworn in as prime minister in September 2014 and served until December 2022, faced several challenges and controversies during his tenure.
Challenges and Controversies
- 2006 coup Bainimarama led a coup in 2006, resulting in him becoming acting president and then acting prime minister.
- Accusations of corruption While his supporters claimed the military takeover was necessary because of corrupt actions, others believed that Bainimarama undertook the coup to avoid prosecution over alleged mismanagement of military funds.
- 2009 Fiji Court of Appeal ruling In April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the Bainimarama government had been put in place illegally after the 2006 coup, a ruling that effectively dissolved the government.
- New constitution The 2013 constitution received strong criticism from international human rights groups because it granted legal immunity to coup participants and curtailed other rights, particularly regarding a clause that allowed leaders to suspend freedoms in the event of government-declared emergencies.
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Frank Bainimarama (born April 27, 1954, Kiuva, Fiji) is a Fijian military leader who led a 2006 coup that resulted in his becoming acting president (2006–07) and later acting prime minister (2007–14) of Fiji. He was sworn in officially as prime minister in September 2014 following his victory in the country’s first elections since the coup and served until December 2022.
Although Bainimarama was a Methodist, he attended the Roman Catholic Marist Brothers High School in Suva, Fiji. From 1975 he pursued a career in the Fijian navy, rising to become commander (1988), captain (1994), and chief of staff (1998). On March 1, 1999, he was appointed commodore and commander of all Fiji’s military forces.
On May 19, 2000, a group led by disgruntled businessman George Speight overthrew the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. Bainimarama persuaded then president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to resign on May 29, 2000, and took over as head of an interim military government in what many considered a countercoup. The Muanikau Accord, signed by Bainimarama (as head of government) and Speight, led to the release of the insurgents’ hostages (including Chaudhry) on July 13. A few days later Bainimarama returned power to an interim government led by newly appointed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Pres. Ratu Josefa Iloilo.
Following elections in 2001 and again in May 2006, Qarase was returned to power, but the dissension between him and Bainimarama continued, particularly with regard to what Bainimarama perceived as the prime minister’s soft treatment of high-ranking chiefs and politicians who had been convicted for their roles in the 2000 coup. The government tried to oust Bainimarama while he was overseas visiting troops in October 2006, but the government’s alternative commander declined to take over, and senior officers rallied behind their commander. On his return to Fiji, Bainimarama purged the army of senior officers whom he considered disloyal and increased pressure on Qarase’s government. In November 2006 Bainimarama demanded the withdrawal of two bills, one of which included the power to grant amnesty to coup leaders; he also demanded the dismissal of the police commissioner, Australian Andrew Hughes. Qarase said that the bills would be put on hold and Hughes’s appointment would be reviewed. Unimpressed, Bainimarama’s troops effectively took over the reins of power on December 5, 2006. Bainimarama had the parliament dissolved, and he deposed Iloilo to become acting president.
While his supporters claimed that the military takeover was necessary in light of Qarase’s corrupt actions, others believed that Bainimarama undertook the coup to avoid prosecution over his alleged mismanagement of military funds, which was then the subject of a government investigation. On January 5, 2007, Bainimarama reinstated Iloilo as president and became interim prime minister; he also promised to hold democratic elections in 2010. In April 2007 he dissolved the Great Council of Chiefs—an administrative body of traditional chiefs with the power to appoint Fiji’s president and vice president—after it refused to accept his choice for vice president. In February 2008 Bainimarama reinstated the council and appointed himself chairman. He continued to put off the date for the promised elections.
In April 2009 the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the Bainimarama government had been put in place illegally after the 2006 coup, a ruling that effectively dissolved the government. Two days later Iloilo announced that he was abrogating the 1997 constitution, and he dismissed the country’s judges. He appointed a new interim government with Bainimarama again as prime minister and postponed national elections once again, this time until 2014. In March 2014 Bainimarama stepped down as the head of Fiji’s military in preparation for his candidacy in the September elections. Bainimarama’s Fiji First party won just over 59 percent of the vote and an outright parliamentary majority in the September 17 elections. He took office formally as prime minister on September 22.