30 Jul 2009

Fiji politician says appointing new President will not be easy

6:15 am on 30 July 2009

The general secretary of Fiji's National Federation Party says appointing a new President presents the interim government with some difficulties.

Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced on Tuesday that President Ratu Josefa Iloilo will retire at the end of next month.

The Vice President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, a former military commander, will be acting president until the interim government chooses a new head of state.

Pramod Rae says that will not be straightforward.

"There is no provision for a direct succession, what had happened had Ratu Iloilo had in fact decreed his own appointment as President and in that decree he made no provision of future Presidents. They would need to have another decree to allow for a replacement"

Pramod Rae of Fiji's National Federation Party.