Christian Democratic Alliance (Fiji)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fiji
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Fiji

Government Executive President Ratu Josefa Iloilo Vice-President (vacant) Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama Cabinet Attorney-General Leader of the Opposition Legislative Parliament Senate House of Representatives Speaker Local government Municipal elections 2002 2005 Former institutions Queen of Fiji Governor Governor-General Chief Minister Executive Council Legislative Council Constitution Preamble 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Great Council of Chiefs Chairman, G.C.C. Ovini Bokini (suspended) Frank Bainimarama (self-appointed) Political parties Electoral system Voting Constituencies Open Communal National Elections Parliamentary (2006, 2009) Presidential (2006) Foreign relations Diplomatic missions
Other countries · Atlas Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The Christian Democratic Alliance, better known locally by its Fijian name, Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito (VLV), was a Fijian political party that operated in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The party was founded in 1997 when a faction of the then-ruling Fijian Political Party (SVT) broke away, but was not registered until February 1999. Rev. Ratu Josaia Rayawa was appointed President of the party, with Ratu Epeli Ganilau, son of former Fijian President Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau and son-in-law of the then-current President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, as interim leader. Other prominent members of the party included Adi Koila Nailatikau (Mara's daughter and Ganilau's sister-in-law), Poseci Bune, Rev. Manasa Lasaro (a former Secretary-General of the Methodist Church, who had advocated banning all commercial and sporting activities on Sundays), and Josefa Vosanibola.

In the general election of 1999, the VLV was widely seen as playing a spoiler role. Campaigning on a platform of strengthening anti-corruption laws, establishing programs to eradicate poverty, and reinforcing the family unit, it took 19 percent of the indigneous Fijian vote, mostly at the expense of the SVT, which lost the election. Ganilau himself failed to win a seat, however, and Bune replaced him as leader. The VLV joined the People's Coalition government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, and Bune and Nailatikau were appointed to the Cabinet.

The VLV splintered in the political realignment that followed the coup d'état, which deposed the Chaudhry government. Many of its members, including Rayawa and Vosanibola, joined the new Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua of interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, while others, including Bune, joined the Fiji Labour Party of deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry. A rump of the party continued under the leadership of Taniela Tabu and fielded two candidates, unsuccessfully, in the general election held to restore democracy in September 2001, but most members of this rump subsequently merged with members of the SVT and the New Labour Unity Party to form the Fiji Democratic Party under the leadership of the former SVT leader Filipe Bole. In 2005, this party merged into the new National Alliance Party of Fiji, founded by the former VLV leader, Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

v • d • e Political parties in Fiji

Represented in the House of Representatives	Fiji Labour Party (FLP) - Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) - United Peoples Party (UPP)

Represented on municipal councils	Lighthouse - National Federation Party (NFP) - Ratepayers' Associations - Savusavu Ratepayers and Citizens - Sunrise Party

Minor parties	Dodonu ni Taukei - Fijian Association Party (FAP) - Fijian Political Party (SVT) - General Voters Party (GVP) - Girmit Heritage Party - Justice and Freedom Party - Lio 'On Famör Rotuma Party - National Alliance Party (NAP) - National Democratic Party (NDP) - Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party (NVTLP) - New Nationalist Party (NNP) - People's National Party (PNP) - Party of the Truth (POTT) - Parliamentary Organization for Indigenous Fijians (POIF) - Social Liberal Multicultural Party (SLMP) - Sugar City Ratepayers Alliance

Historical parties	Conservative Alliance (CAMV) - Alliance Party - All Nationals Congress (ANC) - Christian Democratic Alliance (VLV) - Coalition of Independent Nationals (COIN) - Fiji Democratic Party (FDP) - Fijian Nationalist Party (FNP) - National Congress of Fiji - New Labour Unity Party (NLUP) - Party of National Unity (PANU) - Protector of Fiji (BKV) - Western United Front - Vanua Tako Lavo Party (VTLP)

Coalitions	Grand Coalition (2006) - People's Coalition (1999) - NFP-Labour Coalition (1987) - NFP-WUF Coalition (1982)

Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of Fiji