Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Inia Seruiratu | |
Honorific-Suffix: | MP |
Office: | Leader of the Opposition |
Termstart: | 29 March 2023 |
Primeminister: | Sitiveni Rabuka |
Predecessor: | Frank Bainimarama |
Office1: | Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management |
Termstart1: | 16 April 2020 |
Termend1: | 24 December 2022 |
Primeminister1: | Frank Bainimarama |
Succeeded1: | Sakiasi Ditoka |
Office2: | Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing |
Termstart2: | 22 November 2018 |
Termend2: | 24 December 2022 |
Primeminister2: | Frank Bainimarama |
Predecessor2: | Inoke Kubuabola |
Succeeded2: | Pio Tikoduadua |
Office3: | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
Termstart3: | 28 January 2019 |
Termend3: | 16 April 2020 |
Predecessor3: | Frank Bainimarama |
Succeeded3: | Frank Bainimarama |
Spouse: | Litea Vulakoro |
Children: | 3 |
Branch: | Fijian Army |
Serviceyears: | 1987–2014 |
Rank: | Colonel |
Inia Batikoto Seruiratu is a Fijian politician and member of the Parliament of Fiji for the FijiFirst party. He has been serving as the Opposition Leader since 29 March 2023.[1] He served as the Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management from 2020 to 2022, and Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing from 2018 to 2022.[2] [3]
Seruiratu was first elected to Parliament at the 2014 Fijian general election and appointed Minister for Agriculture and Natural Disaster Management.[4]
He was re-elected in 2018 with 1,251 votes,[5] and appointed Minister of Defence and National Security.[6] In January 2019 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.[7] In April 2020 the Foreign Affairs portfolio returned to Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, and Seruiratu was instead appointed Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Minister for Disaster Management.[3]
On 29 March 2023, he was elected as the Leader of Opposition, replacing Frank Bainimarama.[8]
On April 28, 2020, Seruiratu delivered a speech celebrating the first arrival of Fiji's recently commissioned RFNS Savenaca to its homeport of Walu Bay.
Following the collapse of FijiFirst, Seruiratu remained in parliament as an independent. As leader of the Group of 16 Bloc, the largest non-government grouping, he remained leader of the opposition.[9]