Former Fijian PM Frank Bainimarama Banned From Parliament for ‘Seditious’ Speech

Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama attends a meeting on day three of COP26 at SECC in Glasgow, Scotland on Nov. 2, 2021. Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images

Fiji’s former prime minister and incumbent opposition leader Frank Bainimarama has been banned from parliament for three years after making “seditious” remarks and insulting the president.

The Fijian Parliament voted on the decision to terminate Bainimarama on Friday, with Bainimarama being accused of breaching parliamentary privileges.

Bainimarama, Fiji’s longest-serving PM and leader of the FijiFirst party seized power after launching a military coup in 2006 until he was defeated by People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka in December.

People's Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka gestures during a press conference while counting resumes after the Fijian election in Suva, Fiji, on Dec. 17, 2022. Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP

Government Accused of Setting Out to Destroy Democracy

In a speech to parliament on Monday, Bainimarama launched a divisive attack on the president, the House of Parliament and the new prime minister.

He accused the new government of “setting out to destroy constitutional democracy” and urged for military action.

Bainimarama alleged that Fji’s president Ratu Katonivere, “failed to protect the constitution, the rule of law and failed to halt the resultant chaos that is insidiously and rapidly creeping in.”

Katonivere was formerly the president of FijiFirst.

“He will go down in history as the person who aided and abetted the most incompetent and divisive government,” the opposition leader said.

Fiji's former Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on May 16, 2017. Damir Sagolj-Pool/Getty Images

“As the commander-in-chief, he has failed to provide proper guidance to the RFMF (Republic of Fiji Military Forces).”

He also warned that under the new government, there will be an “impending disaster that is going to befall upon our beloved country—that will fall upon our people, upon our economy and upon our future generations.”

Bainimarama called on the rank and file of the military to “preserve their manna, to maintain their credibility and their calling and not forsake their constitutional role.”

Breach of Privilege

After a three-day meeting, the Privileges Committee concluded that Bainimarama’s speech was an abuse of parliamentary privilege.

They ordered the opposition leader to issue a written apology to the Fijian president within 14 days and apologise to the public within 48 hours. Bainimarama was also subject to an immediate suspension from parliament.

“Seditious words were uttered that breached the standing orders,” said Linda Tabuya, a member of the Privileges Committee.

Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua described the Bainimara’s comments as “highly seditious and disrespectful while dishonouring the dignity and bringing parliament into disrepute.”

Melanesian children float on a bamboo pontoon on the resort-studded Coral Coast of Fiji, on Nov. 11, 2003. Torsten Blackwood/AFP via Getty Images

He also alleged that Bainimarama uttered words that were “denigrating and humiliating” the president.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavotte said the PM does not have the right to “respond to these unmeritorious and offensive uttered against him and the office of the president.”

“Such ignorant insults can destroy public confidence in his Excellency and the Office of the president,” he said.

But FijiFirst MP Jone Usamate defended Bainimarama’s speech, saying on Friday, “you cannot apologise if you have done nothing wrong.”

FijiFirst MP and former trade minister Faiyaz Koya said they “did not find any guilt” in Bainimarama’s speech.

The Pacific island nation has seen four recognised military coups since its independence in 1970. It assumed a leadership role in the Pacific island region and a crucial part in the region’s stance in the geopolitical competition between the US and China.

After coming to power, Rabuka said on Jan. 26 that the Fijian security force would cease working with personnel from China, signalling the end of a policing agreement that was signed between the two nations in 2011 under Bainimarama’s leadership.

The newly elected president deemed it unnecessary for the Pacific Island nation to continue its policing agreement with China, given the “differences” in their respective systems.

“Our system of democracy and justice systems are different, so we will go back to those that have similar systems with us,” Rabuka was quoted as saying by Fiji Times.