List of political parties in Fiji

This article lists political parties in Fiji.

The parties

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Parliamentary parties

Have representatives in the House of Representatives:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Conservative Alliance (Matanitu Vanua, almost exclusively ethnic Fijian)
• Fiji Labour Party (originally multiracial but now predominantly Indo-Fijian; led by Mahendra Chaudhry)
• United Fiji Party (Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua, mainly ethnic Fijian; led by Laisenia Qarase)
• United Peoples Party (supported mostly by Europeans, Chinese, and other minorities)

Minor parties

Not represented in the House of Representatives at present:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Dodonu ni Taukei - ethnic Fijian party led by Dr Fereti S. Dewa.
• Fijian Association Party - founded by Josefata Kamikamica; significant in the 1990s but wiped out in 2001. Most members merged in June 2002 into the new Fiji Democratic Party (q.v.); a rump continues under the leadership of Ratu Inoke Seru.
• Fijian Political Party, better known by its Fijian name, Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT), ethnic Fijian; the governing party from 1992 to 1999, but decimated in 1999 and anihlated in 2001. Partially merged into the Fiji Democratic Party (q.v.) in June 2002.
• General Voters Party, the rump of a once-significant party that mostly merged into what is now the United Peoples Party (q.v.) in the late 1990s. Led by Dan Johns.
• Girmit Heritage Party, a small Indo-Fijian party led by Beni Sami.
• Justice and Freedom Party (JFP): led by Dildar Shah
• Lio on Famor Rotuman Party - a party representing Rotuman Islanders, led by Sakumanu Pene
• National Alliance Party of Fiji: registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau as the successor to the defunct Fijian Alliance (q.v.)
• National Federation Party (predominantly Indo-Fijian; once a major political party)
• Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, led by Iliesa Duvuloco
• New Labour Unity Party - multiracial; founded by Tupeni Baba; most members merged into the Fiji Democratic Party (q.v.) in June 2002; a rump continues under the leadership of Tomasi Tokalauvere.
• Party of the Truth (POTT), led by Nimilote Fifita
• People's National Party: predominantly ethnic Fijian; effectively led by Meli Bogileka; formed from a merger of the Party of National Unity (PANU) - and the Protector of Fiji (Bai kei Viti, founded by Ratu Tevita Momoedonu).
• Parliamentary Organisation for Indigenous Fijiians, ethnic Fijian party.
• Social Liberal Multicultural Party, led by Joketani Delai
• Sugar City Ratepayers Alliance - a party that exists only in the City of Lautoka, where it participates in municipal politics.

Historical parties

Political parties that have played a pivotal role in the past, but are now defunct.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Christian Democratic Alliance, more commonly known by the Fijian acronym VLV (Veitokoni ni Lewenivanua VaKarisito) - founded in 1999, this party won 19 percent of the vote and 3 seats in the 1999 election. It was weakened in 2001 when the leader, Poseci Bune, defected to join the Labour Party. In June 2002, this party merged into the new Fiji Democratic Party (q.v.)
• Fijian Alliance (Alliance Party) - the former ruling party (1967-1987); founded by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. On 18 January 2005, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, the past Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, formally registered the National Alliance Party of Fiji as the claimed successor to the defunct party.
• Fiji Democratic Party - founded in June 2002 by Filipe Bole as a merger of the Fijian Association Party, the Christian Democratic Alliance, the New Labour Unity Party, and most members of the Fijian Political Party. Dissolved in April 2005 and merged into the new National Alliance Party of Fiji (q.v.)
• Party of National Unity (PANU) - multiracial party founded in 1998 by Apisai Tora; now merged into the People's National Party (PNP) (q.v.)
• Protector of Fiji (Bei Kei Viti; BKV) - ethnic Fijian party founded in 2001 by Ratu Tevita Momoedonu; now merged into the People's National Party (PNP) (q.v.)

Coalitions and electoral alliances

• Grand Coalition Initiative Group - a coalition of five predominantly indigenous Fijian parties formed to contest the upcoming election scheduled for mid-2006. Participating parties are: the United Fiji Party, Conservative Alliance, Fijian Political Party, Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party, and the People's National Party.