Frank Bainimarama

Prime Minister of Fiji

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama 27 April 1954 Kiuva, Colony of Fiji

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Incumbent

21st-century Prime Minister of Fiji This article needs to be updated. Please help update this to reflect recent events or newly available information. (November 2020 ) This article is part of a series about Frank Bainimarama Prime Minister of FijiIncumbent FijiFirst Party Cabinet Essential National Industries Decree 2011 Timeline Naval career 2000 coup 2006 coup Charter for Change, Peace and Progress Qoliqoli Bill 2009 Fijian Constitutional Crisis 2013 Constitution Cyclone Winston COP23 COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji Cyclone Yasa General elections 2014 2018 vte Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama CF (MIL) OSt.J. MSD (Fijian: ; born April 27, 1954), commonly known as Frank Bainimarama, is the 8th and current prime minister of Fiji since 2007. A member of the Fiji First Party, he began his career as a naval officer and commander of the Fijian Military Forces. Bainimarama attended Marist Brothers High School, Asian Institute of Technology and Dalhousie University. He joined the Fijian Navy in 1975 and rose through the ranks becoming an Able Seaman and a Midshipman in 1976, an Ensign in 1977 and later promoted to a sub-lieutenant at the end of that year. He was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1986 and became the commanding officer and a commander of the Fijian navy in 1988, he later became captain in 1991. In 1997, Bainimarama was appointed Chief of Staff of the Republic of the Fiji Military Forces. In 1998, he was promoted to a Commodore and later became the commander of the Armed Forces in 1999. He relinquished command in 2014 and in recognition of his military service, he was promoted to Rear Admiral. Bainimarama instigated the 2006 coup removing Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase from power. He later restored Ratu Josefa Iloilo as president and himself as acting prime minister in 2007. He held this title until the 2014 election where his Fiji First Party won and was sworn in as prime minister of Fiji by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. In the 2018 Fijian general election his FijiFirst Party won again an outright majority and Bainimarama was sworn in as the Fijian prime minister for a second term on 20 November 2018.