Justice Filimoni Jitoko is the proposed Fijian Speaker of Parliament.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka following the appointment of the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as the country’s new President elect.
Ratu Naiqama won the Presidency by a landslide vote of 37 to 16 today.
The new Speaker of Parliament will be elected by the august house on 02 December 2024.
The position of Speaker becomes officially vacant on 12 November following the swearing in ceremony of Tui Cakau, the current Speaker, as the new President of Fiji.
Ratu Naiqama in the meantime will remain in office and will attend to the duties of the Speaker till 11 November.
The vacancy will be filled in the sitting of Parliament on 2 December where both the Government and Opposition will make a nomination, and a vote will be taken.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his appreciation for the support received from his two coalition partners ahead of nominating the new president, emphasising the significance of coalition unity within the country’s governance.
In a statement following the nomination process, Rabuka highlighted the importance of collaboration among the coalition partners, which he described as very, very encouraging.
He noted that they secured their full support prior to the official nomination, reflecting the continued alignment of priorities among the parties in his government.
“And, as I said to those that asked me, we, in Parliament, are also an electoral college. We are elected by the people. We carry the mandate of the people, and therefore, and thereby, appoint the President.”
Rabuka also took the opportunity to address the democratic mandate held by Parliament, emphasising that Parliament functions as an electoral college.
He pointed out that its members carry the collective mandate of the Fijian people, serving as the ultimate authority in electing a president.
Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu said this morning’s proceedings in Parliament have brought to a conclusion the democratic process that’s laid out in the 2013 Constitution, Section 84, on how they nominate the President.
Seruiratu has accepted the outcome of the vote and wished the new President-elect well.
