Municipal elections in Fiji

Fiji has established municipal governments for two cities (Suva and Lautoka) and ten towns (Ba, Labasa, Lami, Levuka, Nadi, Nausori, Nasinu, Savusavu, Sigatoka, and Tavua). Each city or town has a council comprising between 8 and 20 members, elected for three-year terms, although the government announced legislation on 15 February 2006 to extend the term to four years. Each city or town council elects from among its own members a Mayor (or Lord Mayor in the case of Suva) for one year. Consecutive terms are permitted.

The last municipal election was held on 22 October 2005, except in Suva and one ward of Lautoka, where the death of candidates resulted in the postponing of the poll till 12 November.

Electoral politics in municipal elections has certain characteristics that set it apart from national politics. Political parties often do regard municipal polls as a trial run for national elections; in the 1985 election for the Suva City Council, for example, the newly formed Fiji Labour Party (FLP) showed that it was on the rise by winning 8 of the 20 seats. It went on to win the parliamentary election in 1987. Local issues also come into play, however:

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