Laisenia Qarase
|
The Right Honourable Laisenia Qarase |
|
|---|---|
| Prime Minister of Fiji | |
|
In office 16 March 2001 – 5 December 2006 |
|
| President | Josefa Iloilo |
| Preceded by | Tevita Momoedonu |
| Succeeded by | Jona Senilagakali |
|
In office 4 July 2000 – 14 March 2001 |
|
| President | Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda |
| Preceded by | Vacant |
| Succeeded by | Ratu Epeli Nailatikau |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
4 February 1941 Vanua Balavu, Fiji |
| Political party | Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua |
Laisenia Qarase (pronounced [ŋɡaˈrase]; born 4 February 1941) is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment as Prime Minister on 4 July. He won two parliamentary elections, but a military coup removed him from power on 5 December 2006. He was later imprisoned on corruption charges brought by the Military-backed regime.
A native of Vanua Balavu Island in the Lau archipelago, he is one of many Lauans to have held top leadership positions in Fiji. He is the son of Josateki Mate of Mavana village.
Following his education at Suva Boys Grammar School, Qarase went on to graduate from New Zealand's University of Auckland with a degree in Commerce. He entered the banking profession and became managing director of the publicly owned Fiji Development Bank in 1983, a position he held for fifteen years. In 1998, he moved to the private sector and became head of the Fiji Merchant Bank. In 1999, Qarase received his first political office, when the Great Council of Chiefs nominated him to fill one of the 14 seats allocated to them in the 32-member Senate, where he soon gained a reputation as a vociferous opponent of Mahendra Chaudhry's government.
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Wikipedia