Vice-President's Constitutional Role
The Fijian Constitution assigns a purely ceremonial role to the Vice-President, with one important exception: he assumes the powers and duties of the Presidency in the event of the President being unable to carry out his duties. With the 84-year old President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo suffering from Parkinson's Disease and requiring frequent visits to Australia for medical treatment, the resignation of the Vice-President left Fiji with no one to take Iloilo's place should he become incapacitated, and the appointment of a successor was considered a priority. On 15 December 2004, the Great Council of Chiefs approved President Iloilo's choice of Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi as the new Vice-President.
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