Justice Ratuvili New Electoral Commision Chairperson

Justice Ratu Usaia Ratuvili has been appointed as the new chair of the Electoral Commission (EC).

Prime Minister and Constitution-al Offices Commission (COC) chair Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed the appointment yesterday.

The COC, responsible for recommending candidates to the President for endorsement, finalised Justice Ratuvili's appointment following his acceptance and the determination of his allowances as a sitting judge.

"That has now been finalised. Justice Ratuvili has been confirmed as the chair of the Electoral Commission," Mr Rabuka said.

"In fact, we decided in the last meeting, but there had to be confirmation from him that he would accept, and also the finalisation of allowances, which had to come from an independent committee."

The EC chair position had been vacant since 14 September 2024, when Barbara Malimali resigned after her appointment as commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Justice Ratuvili, a graduate of the University of the South Pacific's first LLB class in 1998, also holds a Master's in International Human Rights from Hong Kong University (2007).

He joined Fiji's Judicial Department in 2009 after 11 years as a legal practitioner in both private and public practice.

In February 2021, he was appointed Acting Master of the High Court and confirmed in the role in 2022.

A year later, he was appointed Acting Judge of the High Court, serving in Labasa, before being posted as Puisne Judge of the High Court in Suva.

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