1982 Fijian general election

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General elections were held in Fiji between 10 and 17 July 1982.^[1] The paradoxical results were both a triumph and a setback for the Alliance Party of the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. The Alliance captured 51.8 percent of the popular vote, only slightly down on its previous total, but won only 28 seats, 8 fewer than at the previous election of September 1977. Part of the reason for this discrepancy was that the slight surge in support for Ratu Mara's Alliance in the Indo-Fijian community, from 14 percent to 16 percent, was not sufficient to translate into seats in Fiji's communal electoral system, and did not therefore off-set losses among the ethnic Fijian community, particularly in the west of the country. The Western United Front of Ratu Osea Gavidi won only two seats, but split the vote, allowing the National Federation party (NFP), with which it tactically allied itself, to pick up six seats for a total of 22. Moreover, the NFP, which had split into two factions before the previous election, had reunited by now.

Campaign[]

A total of 137 candidates contested the 52 seats in the House of Representatives.^[2] One candidate – of the National Federation Party – was elected unopposed in the Savusavu–Macuatu East Indo-Fijian communal constituency, after his sole opponent, Alliance Party candidate Shiu Prasad, withdrew from the contest shortly before the elections. The Alliance claimed the withdrawal was tactical, as it would mean Indo-Fijian voters would be less likely to come out to vote, giving the Alliance an advantage in the national constituencies.^[3]

The Fijian Nationalist Party campaigned on a 'Fiji for the Fijians' platform, with their manifesto including policies of reserving 46 of the 52 seats in the House of Representatives for Fijians and returning all freehold and crown lands to the Fijian community.^[4]

The Fijian-dominated Western United Front, established in July 1981 and led by Osea Gavidi, formed an electoral pact with the Indo-Fijian dominated National Federation Party, resulting in the NFP standing down in six Fijian national constituencies to allow the WUF to run.^[5]

Results[]

The Alliance won 86% of the vote in the Fijian communal constituencies, with the WUF on 7% and the NFP just 0.8%. In Indo-Fijian communal constituencies the NFP received 84% of the vote and the Alliance 15%.

Three deputy ministers lost their seats; , and .^[6]

Aftermath[]

Following the elections, Mara formed a fifteen-member cabinet.

See also[]

• List of members of the Parliament of Fiji (1982–1987)

References[]