Fiji

President repeals constitution, sets 2014 election deadline

Article published on the 2009-04-10 Latest update 2009-04-10 14:44 TU

Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo makes a televised address
(Photo: Reuters)

President Ratu Josefa Iloilo of Fiji on Friday repealed the country's constitution and sacked the country's judges. He also appointed himself head of state after a court ruling on Thursday that declared the interim government of coup leader Voreqe Bainimarama was invalid.

A bloodless coup in 2006 ousted the then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

On Thursday the Court of Appeal ruled that the country's military regime was illegally appointed and asked the President to appoint a caretaker Prime Minister, but ruled that the post could not go to either coup leader Bainimarama or Qarase.

Bainimarama said there was no provision in the constitution for the appointment of "such a person", declaring that the country did not have a government.

"You cannot have a country without a government. The machinery of government must continue," he said.

New Zealand criticised the president's move, with Foreign Minister Murray McCully describing the repeal of the constitution as a "serious step backwards".

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was "completely unacceptable" to delay elections until 2014.