September 1977 Fijian general election

Early general elections were held in Fiji between 17 and 24 September 1977.[1] They followed elections in March which resulted in a hung parliament and no party able to gain a majority. The new election resulted in a landslide win for the Alliance Party (Fiji) led by Prime Minister Kamisese Mara, which won 36 seats out of 52. It was aided by a split in the main opposition, the National Federation Party (NFP) and a decline in support for the Fijian Nationalist Party.

September 1977 Fijian general election

17–24 September 1977

All 52 seats in the House of Representatives
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
NFP-F
NFP-D
Leader Kamisese Mara Jai Ram Reddy Sidiq Koya
Party Alliance NFP–Flower NFP–Dove
Seats won 36 12 3
Popular vote 378,349 171,508 149,305
Percentage 52.24% 23.68% 20.62%

Prime Minister before election

Kamisese Mara
Alliance

Elected Prime Minister

Kamisese Mara
Alliance

Background

The March elections had seen the NFP win 26 seats, the Alliance 24, the Fijian Nationalist Party one and an independent one.

With divisions apparent in the NFP, Governor-General George Cakobau asked Alliance Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Kamisese Mara to form a government, claiming that Mara was able to command a majority. However, in June the Alliance Party attempted to pass a motion of confidence in the government but lost as the sole Fijian Nationalist Party MP voted against. At the end of June Cakobau dissolved parliament, resulting in fresh elections being held.

Prior to the elections, the NFP openly split in two, with the faction of leader Sidiq Koya and a rival NFP group running against each other in 24 seats. Koya's faction was symbolised by a dove, with the rival faction using a hibiscus flower[2]

In August Fijian Nationalist Party leader Sakeasi Butadroka was given a six month jail sentence for inciting racial hatred.[2]

Results

Koya lost his seat to a rival NFP candidate Jai Ram Reddy.[2] Sole independent MP Osea Gavidi was narrowly re-elected, with five Alliance MPs being elected unopposed.[2]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Alliance Party378,34952.2436+12
National Federation Party–Flower171,50823.6812–11
National Federation Party–Dove149,30520.623
Fijian Nationalist Party18,8542.600–1
Independents6,2280.8610
Total724,244100.00520
Valid votes724,24493.34
Invalid/blank votes51,7136.66
Total ballots cast201,245
Registered voters/turnout287,08170.10
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

Following the elections, Mara appointed a twelve-member cabinet.[2] Jai Ram Reddy became Leader of the Opposition.[3]

Position Minister
Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kamisese Mara
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Fijian Affairs and Rural Development
Penaia Ganilau
Attorney GeneralVijay R. Singh
Minister of Agriculture and FisheriesCharles Walker
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Co-operativesMohammed Ramzan
Minister of Education and SportSemesa Sikivou
Minister of FinanceCharles Stinson
Minister of HealthTed Beddoes
Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations and ImmigrationDavid Toganivalu
Minister of Tourism, Transport and Civil AviationTomasi Vakatora
Minister of Urban Development and HousingJonati Mavoa
Minister of Works and CommunicationsJames Shankar Singh
Minister of State for Co-operativesLivai Nasilivata
Minister of State for ForestsJosaia Tavaiqia
Minister of State for InformationWilliam Toganivalu
Minister of State for Lands and Mineral ResourcesMilitoni Leweniqila
Minister of State for Home AffairsSolomone Momoivalu
Minister of State for Youth and SportVivekanand Sharma

Bill Clark later became Minister of Lands and Minerals and Sakiasi Waqanivavalagi became Minister of Youth and Sport.

In a cabinet reshuffle in January 1981, Clark became Minister of Energy, David Toganivalu became Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed Ramzan became Minister of Health, Tomasi Vakatora became Minister of Labour, Industry Relations and Immigration, Ted Beddoes became Minister of Tourism, transport and Civil Aviation and Waqanivavalagi added Lands and Mineral Resources to his Youth and Sport portfolio.[4]

See also

References

  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p653 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. Overwhelming win for Alliance in Fiji general election Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1977, pp19–20
  3. Fiji breathes a sigh of relief after poll Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1977, p10
  4. Fiji minitry is changed Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1981, pp31–32

Notes

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