Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu, born December 23, 1953, has served as President of Fiji since November 12, 2024, after being elected by Parliament on October 31, 2024, defeating rival Meli Tora on a People's Alliance Party nomination; the presidency is Fiji's head-of-state office, a largely ceremonial role carrying reserve powers and command of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. He succeeded his father as Tui Cakau, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove Province, in 1999, and before the presidency served as Speaker of Parliament from 2022 to 2024 and Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2022, having first been elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and held ministerial posts including Minister for Fijian Affairs and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources; he has also been associated with the Social Democratic Liberal Party since 2014, serving as its president from 2015.
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Political Role3rd Speaker of Parliament 1 Political Role Political RoleLeader of the Opposition 1 Political Role Sources
1. Naiqama Lalabalavu - Wikipedia (Wikipedia)
2. Naiqama Lalabalavu (Wikipedia)
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Ratu Naiqama Tawakecolati Lalabalavu MBE (born 23 December 1953) is a Fijian Paramount Chief and the current President of Fiji.
Infobox
Born (1953-12-23) 23 December 1953 (age 72)
Entity description, gender reference sentence
He succeeded his father as Tui Cakau, the paramount chief of Cakaudrove Province, in 1999, and before the presidency served as Speaker of Parliament from 2022 to 2024 and Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2022, having first been elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and held ministerial posts including Minister for Fijian Affairs and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources; he has also been associated with the Social Democratic Liberal Party since 2014, serving as its president from 2015.
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