Suva (Fiji) (AFP) - Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama was suspended from parliament on Friday for three years over a speech he made criticising the president.
Bainimarama came to power after leading a bloodless coup in 2006 and governed until being replaced as prime minister following general elections last December.
As leader of the opposition, Bainimarama took aim at Fiji's new government and his successor Sitiveni Rabuka during a speech in parliament on Monday.
Bainimarama also accused Fiji's President Wiliame Katonivere of failing to protect the constitution, which he claimed "is being stripped away almost on a daily basis" by the new government.
"As the commander-in-chief he (Katonivere) has failed to provide proper guidance to Fiji's military forces," Bainimarama added.
While he was still prime minister, Bainimarama nominated Katonivere as Fiji's president in October 2021.
Bainimarama's speech on Monday led to a complaint being lodged to the speaker of the house over a breach of parliamentary procedure.
Home affairs minister Pio Tikotikodua complained that Bainimarama's speech denigrated the president and contained a "seditious and disrespectful" appeal to the military.
After a day of lengthy debate on Friday, Fiji's parliament voted to suspend Bainimarama until February 2026.
Under the terms of his suspension, Bainimarama must issue a written apology to Katonivere and the general public.
He is also barred from entering the parliament precinct during his suspension.
Bainimarama's successor as leader of the opposition has not been named.
Rabuka, who led two coups in 1987, replaced Bainimarama as prime minister following a closely fought election last December.
In January, Fiji's powerful military warned that it views the scale and speed of government reforms under Rabuka "with growing concern".
The military has wide powers to intervene in politics under the constitution of Fiji, which has endured four coups in the past 36 years.
