Epeli Nailatikau

Epeli Nailatikau at a graduation ceremony of the University of the South Pacific (2012)

Ratu Epeli Nailatikau LVO , OBE , KSTJ (born July 5, 1941 ) is a Fijian chief and politician. He was the President of Fiji from July 30, 2009 to November 12, 2015 .

Life

Epeli Nailatikau served in the Fijian armed forces for over 20 years and made it to Brigadier General before embarking on a diplomatic career that he pursued for over 17 years. As Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji Islands in London, he was also responsible for Germany. He has been active in politics since 1999, initially as speaker of the House of Representatives from 2001, and later in various ministerial offices.

On April 17, 2009, Frank Bainimarama's military regime appointed Nailatikau vice-president. Since the resignation and the compulsory retirement of the 88-year-old President Josefa Iloilo on July 30, 2009, Nailatikau was also acting President. On November 5, 2009, the cabinet approved the appointment of Ratu Epeli Nailatikau as president. For the first time, the President was not elected by the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), but was nominated by Anthony Gates, President of the Supreme Court and confirmed by the Cabinet. Bainimarama had more or less openly urged the cabinet to elect the former military president.

Ratu is the Fijian name for a chief.