A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections.

See political party for a more comprehensive discussion.

Fiji has a multi-party system, with numerous parties in which no one party often has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties must work with each other to form coalition governments.

The parties

The general rule on naming applies. That means: the parties are named in the English translation and the original native name is placed on the first line of the article unless the native form is more commonly used in English than the English form. Rationale and specifics: See: Wikipedia:Naming conventions (use English).

Major

Dominate the House of Representatives:

• Fiji Labour Party (originally multiracial but now predominantly Indo-Fijian; led by Mahendra Chaudhry)
• United Fiji Party (mainly ethnic Fijian; led by Laisenia Qarase)

Medium

Have representatives in the House of Representatives:

• Conservative Alliance (almost exclusively ethnic Fijian)
• New Labour Unity Party (multiracial)
• United General Party (supported mostly by Europeans, Chinese, and other minorities)

Minor

Not represented in the House of Representatives at present:

• Fijian Political Party (ethnic Fijian; the governing party from 1992 to 1999, but decimated in 1999 and anihlated in 2001).
• Fortress for the people of Fiji (ethnic Fijian)
• National Alliance Party of Fiji: registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau as the successor to the defunct Fijian Alliance (q.v.)
• National Federation Party (predominantly Indo-Fijian; once a major political party)
• Parliamentary Organisation for Indigenous Fijiians (ethnic Fijian)
• Party of National Unity (multi-racial)

Historical

Political parties that have played a pivotal role in the past, but are now defunct.

• Fijian Alliance (Alliance Party) - the former ruling party (1967-1987); founded by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. On 18 January 2005, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, the past Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, formally registered the Alliance Party of Fiji as the claimed successor to the defunct party.
• Christian Democratic Party - founded in 1999, this party won 19 percent of the vote and 3 seats in the 1999 election. It has since been largely absorbed into the United Fiji Party, although some of its members joined the Fiji Labour Party.

See also

• Index of political parties to browse parties by name
• List of political parties to browse parties by country
• List of political parties by ideology to browse parties by name
• Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals