  the president of the republic of fiji is the head of state of fiji. the president is appointed by the parliament of fiji for a three-year term under the terms of the 2013 constitution. although not entirely a figurehead, the president's role in government is mostly ceremonial, but there are important reserve powers that may be exercised in the event of a crisis. in addition, the president is commander-in-chief of the military forces. ==presidential history==  the office of president was established following two military coups in 1987 that led to the proclamation of a republic on 7 october, ending the fijian monarchy. major-general sitiveni rabuka, who had masterminded the coups, formed an interim military government with himself as its head. he did not, however, take the title of president, and on 5 december appointed ratu sir penaia ganilau, the last governor-general, as the first president of the republic.  a civilian putsch instigated by george speight led to another constitutional upheaval in 2000. president ratu sir kamisese mara resigned on 29 may rather than abrogate the constitution, as the military, supported by the supreme court, had asked. (whether or not his resignation was forced is the subject of an ongoing police investigation.) commodore frank bainimarama took power as head of the interim military government (as had rabuka in 1987), until ratu josefa iloilo was appointed president on 13 july.  on 5 december 2006, the military forces again overthrew the government. bainimarama declared himself acting president; he initially said that he had assumed the office in an interim capacity, and would soon ask the great council of chiefs to reinstate iloilo, but on 17 december he insisted that he was now the president and that the great council should recognize him 
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