Fiji
Fiji exhibits mid-range performance in three of four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework and high performance in Participation. It is amongst the top 25 per cent globally in Electoral Participation and Civil Society. Compared to five years prior, it has seen significant advances in Civil Society, Credible Elections, Judicial Independence and five other factors. Fiji is an upper-middle-income country and one of the most economically developed Pacific Island nations, with key economic sectors including international tourism, sugarcane cultivation, and garment manufacturing; its largest export is bottled water.
Fiji gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1970 and became a republic in 1987 following an indigenous-led military coup that overthrew a multi-ethnic coalition and removed Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. Subsequent developments reflected prominent ethnic divisions within the country, including between indigenous Fijians, known as the i-Taukei and Indo-Fijians. Most of the latter were brought to Fiji as indentured laborers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and comprised a majority of the population as recently as the 1980s. After independence, protests and nationalist rhetoric surrounded most elections, as partisan politics often fell along ethnic lines. Fiji’s political history has been dominated by four coups d’état, most recently in 2006, and military domination of the government. The Indigenous ethnonationalist-led coups in 1987 and 2000 triggered significant outmigration of Indo-Fijians, and i-Taukei now make up a slight majority. The 2013 constitution enshrines the military as the guarantors of democracy and well-being, which has perpetuated its centrality to Fijian politics and shields it from civilian oversight.
Fiji’s four coups have been rooted in its ethnic divide. Land issues are a major component, as a dual tenure system has led to i-Taukei owning 83 per cent of the country’s land. Although Fiji returned to holding free democratic elections in 2014, press freedom is routinely challenged, corruption remains endemic, and the first peaceful transfer of power took place in December 2022. Watchdog groups say cruel and inhuman treatment by police and corrections officers is commonplace. Domestic violence against women and girls remains a serious issue, and Fijian women continue to earn significantly less than men. While discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is constitutionally banned, the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face hate speech from politicians and religious leaders, as well as broader challenges within society. Environmental issues loom large on the political scene, as deforestation, overfishing, and climate change threaten the country’s future.
The peaceful transfer of power from Frank Bainimarama to Sitiveni Rabuka in 2022 has so far prompted a rollback of the former’s authoritarian tendencies, such as the repeal of the much-criticized 2010 restrictive media law, but also a shift in power back to traditional chiefs and more local control. Rabuka has also overseen the removal of Bainimarama’s network of allies in the executive branch, and Bainimarama himself was removed from parliament for misconduct and sentenced to one year in jail for interfering in an investigation while president. While no evidence exists to suggest that laws were broken in the process, the speed and thoroughness of the efforts to sideline Bainimarama raise questions about the future of Predictable Enforcement. Freedom of Assembly is also regularly challenged, as march permits for protests are routinely denied.
Last Updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
August 2025
Supreme Court ruling lowers constitutional amendment standards
The Supreme Court delivered an advisory opinion on 29 August that answered five questions from the cabinet regarding the constitution. The Court found that the 2013 Constitution, despite being imposed by a military government, is in force and has replaced the 1997 Constitution. However, it did not recognize the validity of the amendment provisions it established in Articles 159 and 160. The Court ruled that the thresholds of three-fourths support in the legislature followed by support from three-fourths of all eligible voters in a referendum, are too high. The Court instead provided for an amendment process that requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority and then a majority of voters in a referendum. The opinion has been interpreted as affirming the legitimacy of the 2013 Constitution while making it more open to change through democratic processes. However, the Court's overruling of the clear text of the constitution has led some observers to accuse both the Court and the government of overreach.
Sources: Radio New Zealand, DevPolicy, FijiVillage, ConstitutionNet, Supreme Court of Fiji
July 2025
UN data shows record number of new HIV infections
Data from UNAIDS showed Fiji had 1,583 recorded new cases of HIV in 2024, which is the highest number of cases in a year in the country’s history and represented a 281 per cent increase over 2023. Fijian public health officials said the rise in infections was driven primarily by increased intravenous use of illicit drugs and exacerbated by decreased support from international donors for public health measures. The lack of available funding is also hampering collection of data for 2025.
September 2024
Corruption commission appointment sparks political scandal
Barbara Malimali was named the head of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) by the Constitutional Offices Commission on 4 September, despite being the subject of an ongoing FICAC investigation into abuse of office in her previous post as chairperson of the Electoral Commission. The ensuing controversy has reignited longstanding debates over the independence and credibility of FICAC. The FICAC Deputy Commissioner ordered Malimali be taken in for questioning on 5 September and then, after a public backlash from other high-ranking officials, resigned herself, citing pressure to not open investigations into Malimali and other high-ranking officials. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has said there is no reason for Malimali to resign unless she is formally charged by FICAC, while opposition politicians, such as former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, have insisted she must step aside to ensure a transparent and accountable inquiry.
Sources: Fiji Sun (1), Radio New Zealand (1), Radio New Zealand (2), Fiji Sun (2), Fiji Sun (3)
May 2024
Former President Bainimarama sentenced to one year in prison
Former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was sentenced to one year in prison on 9 May for ‘perversion of justice.’ Fiji’s High Court overturned his final appeal and agreed with a lower court ruling that found Bainimarama told his police commissioner to ignore the allegations from university administrators that graft and mismanagement were commonplace at the University of South Pacific. The former police commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, was also sentenced to two years in prison. The sentence marks what could be the last stage of the current Fijian administration’s efforts to sideline Bainimarama, who originally took power in a military coup in 2006, and prevent him from maintaining extra-parliamentary influence since he left office after losing the 2022 general election.
Sources: Reuters, Australian Broadcasting Company
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