News

New President to be elected today

October 22, 2021 5:10 am

A new President will be elected by Members of Parliament today.

The new Head of State will be the third to serve in that position under the 2013 Constitution following outgoing President Jioji Konrote and his predecessor Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.

President Konrote will be the first Head of State to have served two terms under the Constitution, having taken his oath of office in November 2015.

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All Members of Parliament will be physically present in the House this morning to vote in the new President.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has already announced he will name Turaga na Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere who has accepted the nomination.

Ratu Wiliame will be the youngest ever President, if he is elected today. He will also have to step down from his position as the president of FijiFirst.

Also, for the call of country, he will not be part of any boards, including resigning as Chair of the Fiji Pine Group.Katonivere has been the chairman of the Pine Group of Companies since 2020, which includes Fiji Pine Limited, Tropik Wood Industries Limited, and Tropik Wood Products Limited. He is also a board member for Fiji Airports, Fiji Sugar Corporation and Rewa Rice Ltd.

He is also set to become the first from Vanua Levu to be head of state since the late Ratu Penaia Ganilau held office from 1987-1993.

Ratu Wiliame hails from Naduri in Vanua Levu.

He has been the chief of Macuata Province since 2013, succeeding his older brother Ratu Aisea Katonivere and has been involved in conservation initiatives of Fiji’s Great Sea Reef, having spoken at the past COP events.

The Opposition nominee is speculated to be Marama na Roko Tui Dreketi and former SODELPA Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa.

Current President Jioji Konrote’s term expires next month when the new Head of State will also open the new sitting of parliament.