parliament

Bainimarama, who was the opposition leader, made the announcement via a five-minute video on Facebook on Wednesday.

He said his suspension on February 17 was "unwarranted and most certainly unjustified".

"I did not swear nor did I make any racist or divisive comments," he said.

It comes after the former prime minister said the President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere had failed to protect the Constitution and the rule of law in his opening statement for the 2023 parliamentary session on Monday.

The FijiFirst leader will be out of Parliament until 17 February 2026, after a midnight vote as both sides of the House clashed over Bainimarama's suspension.

Leader of government business Lynda Tabuya said Bainimarama's words "denigrated" the Head of State when he uttered "seditious words".

Flames were seen billowing from the building's roof on Monday, as firefighters tried to douse the blaze.

The fire first broke out on Sunday and completely destroyed the National Assembly, or lower chamber.

Police have arrested a suspect who will appear in court on Tuesday on charges of arson, housebreaking and theft.

President for the last six years, Baron Waqa has lost his bid to be re-elected to Parliament.

Charmaine Scotty, who was Education Minister in the Waqa-led government and Isabelle Dageago are the two women in the new Parliament.

Waqa contested his Boe constituency with four other candidates in the election on Saturday, 24 August 2019.

Asterio Appi and Martin Hunt were the two candidates elected from Boe.

David Adeang, who was Minister for Finance and Justice, has also been re-elected to parliament.

The result came after a recount of the votes that took another five hours, subsequently ending 13 hours after the polls closed at 6pm.

A government statement said the initial count of the votes came to a very close result between Mr Scotty and Pyon Deiye with one-16th of a per cent difference between them.

Under the new amendment act, the Returning Officer for the elections, in this case the Electoral Commissioner Joseph Cain can initiate a recount to ensure accuracy.

Speaker Job Pomat, in a press conference after the sitting, said he will now allow due process to take place.

“I have received it. When parliament meets on the 28^th (May), it will look at this notice, after it goes through the process of the Private Business Committee,” Pomat said.

He explained that Parliament may not necessarily vote on the 28^th but with the motion notice given yesterday afternoon, this will go for the notice paper when parliament next meets.

FBC News said the suspension was for 30 days with immediate effect.

The NFP provided its 2013-2014 Annual Audited Accounts to the Registrar, which was published in the Fiji Sun on November 13th.

FBC News said the accounts were not audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

As per requirement under the 2013 constitution, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has nominated former military officer and current cabinet minister Jioji Konrote for the position, where as the opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has nominated Taveuni chief and former military commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

The constitution requires the President has had a distinguished career in any aspect of national or international life, whether in the public or private sector.