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- Name: Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama
- More Commonly Known As: Frank Bainimarama
- Also Known As: Ratu
- Born: April 27, 1954
- Bainimarama is an ethnic Fijian
- Appears to support a multi-ethnic Fiji
- Served as Fiji's Head of the Interim Military Government from May 29, 2000 to July 13, 2000
- Handed power over to the newly-appointed President Ratu Josefa Iloilo
- Was formally appointed Interim Prime Minister by Ratu Josefa Iloilo on January 5, 2007
- April 9, 2009: Fijian Court of Appeals ruled that the in-power interim government was illegal under the Fijian constitutionFiji.gov: Address to the nation of Fiji by PM Bainimarama... (April 9, 2009)
- President Ratu Josefa Iloilo declared the country's constitution voidFiji.gov: Address to the nation of Fiji by PM Bainimarama... (April 9, 2009)
- Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama stepped down from his position following the court's rulingFiji.gov: Address to the nation of Fiji by PM Bainimarama... (April 9, 2009)
- Bainimarama returned to power the next dayAssociated Press: Fiji military chief returns to prime minister post (April 10, 2009)
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Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, more commonly known as Frank Bainimarama, is Fiji's Prime Minister and commander of the island nation's military. A court ruling on April 9, 2009 declared the 2006 chain of events that led to his appointment illegal, but caused only a brief interruption to his tenure. On the same day, Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo suspended the constitution, paving the way for the Commodore to resume control the next day.Fiji.gov: Address to the nation of Fiji by PM Bainimarama... (April 9, 2009) Upon returning to power on April 10, Bainimarama declared a 30-day state of emergency, limiting freedom of speech and broadening police power.Associated Press: Fiji military chief returns to prime minister post (April 10, 2009)
Power Interrupted
On April 9, 2009, the Fijian Court of Appeals ruled that the interim government put in place in 2006 by President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was illegal under the Fijian constitution. In response to the court's ruling, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo declared the country's constitution void and announced that he was assuming all ruling power. Interim Prime Minister Bainimarama stepped down from his position following the court's ruling, declaring that there was no government currently in place for the country.Fiji.gov: Address to the nation of Fiji by PM Bainimarama... (April 9, 2009) He was restored to power on April 10.Associated Press: Fiji military chief returns to prime minister post (April 10, 2009)