# Vice-President of Fiji

The position of the vice-president of the Republic of Fiji was created in 1990, to provide a constitutional successor to the president of Fiji, in the event of the latter's death or resignation, or of his otherwise being unable to carry out his duties. The vice-president's role in government was mostly ceremonial as its sole purpose was to replace the president in his absence, death, or inability to hold office. The vice-presidency was abolished in 2013, with the powers of the office transferred to the Chief Justice of Fiji, who has a dormant commission which is triggered when the position of President of Fiji is either vacant or when the President is either absent or ill.

## History of the office

Under the terms the 1990 Constitution of Fiji, the vice-presidency was divided between two persons, styled First Vice-President and Second Vice-President, respectively, but a single person held the office of vice-president from 1999, when the 1997 Constitution of Fiji came into effect.
Under the terms of the 1997 Constitution, the vice-president was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, after consultation with the prime minister. In April 2009, however, the Constitution was suspended, following the earlier suspension of the Great Council of Chiefs in April 2007. Six days after the suspension of the Constitution, the government issued a decree stating that the vice-president would henceforth be appointed by the president. Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was appointed vice-president the following day.
Under the terms of the 2013 Constitution, the vice-presidency was abolished, with its duties and powers transferred to the chief justice.
Being appointees of the all-indigenous Great Council of Chiefs, Fiji's vice-presidents, like its presidents, have all been indigenous Fijians (of chiefly rank). In 2007, Reverend Akuila Yabaki, Director of the Citizens Constitutional Forum, suggested that "the time may be right now to allow a person from any race to take up this position".

## Vice-presidents

First vice-presidents
No.
Portrait
First Vice-PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyPresident
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir Josaia Tavaiqia (1931–1997)19902 June 19922 years, 153 daysIndependentPenaia Ganilau
Mara, KamiseseRatu Sir Kamisese Mara (1920–2004)2 June 199215 December 19931 year, 196 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Vacant (15 December 1993 – 12 January 1994)
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir Josaia Tavaiqia (1931–1997)12 January 199417 November 1997 †309 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Takiveikata, InokeRatu Inoke Takiveikata17 November 199718 January 19991 year, 62 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Second vice-presidents
No.
Portrait
Second Vice-PresidentTook officeLeft officeTime in officePartyPresident
Takiveikata, InokeRatu Inoke Takiveikata19902 June 19922 years, 153 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau
Tavaiqia, JosaiaRatu Sir Josaia Tavaiqia (1931–1997)2 June 199212 January 19941 year, 224 daysIndependentRatu Sir Penaia Ganilau Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara
Takiveikata, InokeRatu Inoke Takiveikata12 January 199417 November 19973 years, 309 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara
Iloilo, JosefaRatu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011)17 November 199718 January 19991 year, 62 daysIndependentRatu Sir Kamisese Mara :

### Vice-presidents (single office)

| No. | Vice-President | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | President |
| | Iloilo, JosefaRatu Josefa Iloilo (1920–2011) | 18 January 1999 | 29 May 2000 | 1 year, 132 days | Independent | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara |
| Vacant (29 May 2000 – 25 March 2001) ||||||||
| | Seniloli, JopeRatu Jope Seniloli (1939–2015) | 25 May 2001 | 29 November 2004 | 3 years, 188 days | Independent | Josefa Iloilo |
| | Madraiwiwi, JoniRatu Joni Madraiwiwi (1957–2016) | 15 December 2004 | 5 December 2006 | 1 year, 355 days | Independent | Josefa Iloilo |
| Vacant (5 December 2006 – 17 April 2009) ||||||||
| | Nailatikau, EpeliRatu Brigadier general (Rtd) Epeli Nailatikau (born 1941) | 17 April 2009 | 30 July 2009 | 104 days | Independent | Josefa Iloilo |
| Vacant (30 July 2009 – 6 September 2013) ||||||||
| Abolished (6 September 2013 – present) ||||||||