Fiji: The former Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr. Frank Bainimarama, has resigned from the country’s parliament after he was suspended for sedition and insulting the president.

Mr. Bainimarama posted on the FijiFirst party’s Facebook page that he was tendering his resignation “with immediate effect,” but had no intention of resigning from politics.

The 68-year-old had led Fiji since taking power in 2006 and was replaced as prime minister following a closely contested general election last December.

Parliament suspended Mr. Bainimarama in February 2023 until 2026 following a speech in which he criticised his successor, Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka, and President Mr. William Katonivere.

The former PM accused Mr. Katonivere of failing to protect the constitution, which he claimed was “being stripped away almost on a daily basis” by Mr. Rabuka’s new government.

In a recent statement, Mr. Bainimarama described his three-year suspension for breaching parliamentary procedure as “unwarranted and most certainly unjustified.”

“However, the decision has been made by parliament and I have complied with the decision.”

“I want to assure all our supporters and all Fijians that you will be seeing more of me on the ground as I engage with you to listen to your needs, wants and concerns,” Mr. Bainimarama added.

The former PM further promised that he would remain strongly involved in the country’s political scene.

While Mr. Bainimarama will remain leader of FijiFirst, his resignation means his opposition party can retain “at all times” their 26 seats in the country’s 55-seat parliament.

WORLD ROUNDUP: Canadian companies got approval to sell, produce cocaine & other drugs