Laisenia Qarase

Laisenia Qarase
Qarase in 2004
Prime Minister of Fiji
In office
16 March 2001 – 5 December 2006
PresidentJosefa Iloilo
DeputyTupeni Baba
Epeli Nailatikau
Teimumu Kepa
Preceded byTevita Momoedonu
Succeeded byJona Senilagakali
In office
4 July 2000 – 14 March 2001
PresidentRatu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda
DeputyEpeli Nailatikau
Preceded byVacant
Succeeded byTevita Momoedonu
Member for Lau
In office
20012006
Preceded byKoila Nailatikau
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born(1941-02-04)4 February 1941
Vanua Balavu, Colony of Fiji
Died21 April 2020(2020-04-21) (aged 79)
Suva, Fiji
Political partySoqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua
SpouseLeba Qarase (?–2020; his death)
Children5

Laisenia Qarase (pronounced [lai̯seni̯a ŋɡaˈrase]; 4 February 1941 – 21 April 2020)[1] was a Fijian politician. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment as Prime Minister on 4 July. He won two parliamentary elections, but a military coup removed him from power on 5 December 2006. He was later imprisoned on corruption charges brought by the military-backed regime.

A native of Vanua Balavu Island in the Lau archipelago, he was one of many Lauans to have held top leadership positions in Fiji.

  1. ^ "Laisenia Qarase, former Fiji PM bookended by coups, dies at 79". RNZ. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.