Fiji: Despite court finding, Prime Minister Rabuka unlikely to resign before general election
On 3 February, Prime Minister Rabuka responded to media that his resignation was an option after a high court ruling the previous day that he had acted unconstitutionally when he advised the President to remove the anti-corruption commissioner. PM Rabuka provided the advice in June 2025 following a commission of inquiry into controversy around the commissioner’s appointment. The court ruled that the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) solely has the authority to provide this advice. PM Rabuka accepted responsibility for his actions in 2025, with his defence arguing that the JSC was not in a position to fulfil its functions, but also stated that he will appeal to Fiji’s Supreme Court.
Assessment: PM Rabuka is unlikely to resign before the general election which are expected to occur in August 2026 (they must take place between 7 August 2026 and 6 February 2027). He is highly unlikely to resign before the outcome of the appeal to the Supreme Court, which will take time to schedule and undertake. While PM Rabuka has maintained high ethical standards during his government’s first term, including removing a minister and two deputy prime ministers who are also face various corruption and perjury-type charges, he has a high sense of public service, with a number of national policy projects still underway. Therefore, he is likely to use the imminent general election as the arbiter of continued public support.
Sources: Christine Rovoi, “Fiji court rules PM acted unlawfully in sacking anti-corruption chief,” PMN, 2 February 2026; Christine Rovoi, “Fiji Prime Minister signals possible resignation after court rules anti-corruption chief dismissal was unlawful,” PMN, 3 February 2026; Fiji Elections Office, “Elections,” accessed 10 February 2026.
