A Fiji academic says the retirement of Fiji's President opens the door for Ratu Epeli Naliatikau, a former minister in the interim regime, to become the country's next head of state.
Ratu Josefa Iloilo is to retire at the end of next month, and a new President will be appointed by the chief justice upon the recommendation of the Cabinet.
Vice President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who was a former minister in the interim regime, and a former military commander, will be acting in the position until a new President is sworn in.
Steven Ratuva from the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland says processes have been put in place to make the transition smooth.
"For instance they had appointed Ratu Epeli Nailatikau earlier as Vice President, and also they had appointed the Chief Justice, who is going to do the formalisation process of the appointment. So these institutional processes have been in place, so all they had to do was ask the President to retire, and they are going to re-appoint the new President."
Steven Ratuva from the Centre for Pacific Studies.
