March 1977 Fijian general election

March 1977 Fijian general election

← 1972 19 March–2 April 1977 September 1977 →
All 52 seats in the House of Representatives 26 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   NFP Leader Kamisese Mara Sidiq Koya Sakeasi Butadroka Party Alliance NFP Nationalist Last election 33 seats 15 seats – Seats won 24 26 1 Seat change 9 7 New Popular vote 338,523 332,764 39,238 Percentage 46.02% 45.23% 5.33% Swing 6.22pp 9.42pp New
Prime Minister before election Kamisese Mara Alliance Elected Prime Minister Kamisese Mara Alliance

Politics of Fiji
Constitution History
Executive President (list) Naiqama Lalabalavu Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Cabinet Attorney-General Siromi Turaga Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu
Legislative Parliament Speaker: Filimoni Jitoko
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Kamal Kumar Court of Appeal High Court
Elections Electoral system Voting Political parties Post-independence elections 1972 Mar 1977 Sep 1977 1982 1987 1992 1994 1999 2001 2006 2014 2018 2022 Next
Local government Recent local elections 2002 2005
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister: Sitiveni Rabuka Diplomatic missions of / in Fiji Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Former and informal Monarchy Governor Governor-General Chief Minister Executive Council House of Representatives Constituencies Open Communal National Legislative Council Great Council of Chiefs Chairman Senate Vice-President
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General elections were held in Fiji between 19 March and 2 April 1977.^[1] As a result of a split in the ethnic Fijian vote, the ruling Alliance Party of Prime Minister Kamisese Mara suffered a narrow defeat. Although the Alliance Party received the most votes, it won only 24 seats, two fewer than the Indo-Fijian-dominated National Federation Party (NFP). One seat was won by the Fijian Nationalist Party, with the remaining seat going to an independent candidate, Osea Gavidi.

Although the NFP emerged as the largest party, Governor-General George Cakobau asked Mara to form a new government, claiming that he had the support of the majority of the House. The new government remained in office until early elections in September the same year.