Inia Seruiratu

{{short description|Fijian politician}}

{{Use DMY dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Inia Seruiratu

| honorific-suffix = MP

| image = Inia Seruiratu - 2019 (48403437787) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Seruiratu in 2019

| office = Leader of the Opposition

| termstart = 29 March 2023

| termend =

| primeminister = Sitiveni Rabuka

| deputy = Parveen Bala (2024–present)

| predecessor = Frank Bainimarama

| succeeded =

| office1 = Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management

| termstart1 = 16 April 2020

| termend1 = 24 December 2022

| primeminister1 = Frank Bainimarama

| predecessor1 =

| 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

| allegiance = {{Plainlist|

• {{flag|Fiji}}

}}

| 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.fijitimes.com/seruiratu-is-the-new-opposition-leader/ | title=Seruiratu is the new Opposition Leader }} 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.{{Cite web|title=Ministers {{!}} Office of the Prime Minister Fiji|url=http://www.pmoffice.gov.fj/ministers-2/|access-date=2020-06-05|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=PM announces cabinet reshuffle, Faiyaz Koya sworn in as Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/PM-announces-cabinet-reshuffle-Faiyaz-Koya-sworn-in-as-Minister-for-Commerce-Trade-Tourism-and-Transport-rfx584/ |author= Naveel Krishant |publisher=Fiji Village |date=16 April 2020 |access-date=2020-06-05}}

Seruiratu was first elected to Parliament at the 2014 Fijian general election and appointed Minister for Agriculture and Natural Disaster Management.{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2014/09/24/fijis-new-cabinet-ministers-were-sworn-in-today-at-government-house/ |title=Fiji's New Cabinet Ministers Were Sworn In Today At Government House |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=24 September 2014 |accessdate=17 June 2020}}

He was re-elected in 2018 with 1,251 votes,{{cite web |url=https://2018results.feo.org.fj/ |title=2018 General Elections Dashboard |publisher=Fiji Elections Office |date= |accessdate=17 June 2020}} and appointed Minister of Defence and National Security.{{cite web |url=https://www.islandsbusiness.com/breaking-news/item/2263-new-cabinet-lineup.html |title=New faces in Fiji cabinet |publisher=Islands Business |author=Netani Rika |date=22 November 2018 |accessdate=17 June 2020}} In January 2019 he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/381166/inia-seruiratu-fiji-s-new-foreign-minister |title=Inia Seruiratu Fiji's new foreign minister |publisher=RNZ |date=29 January 2019 |accessdate=17 June 2020}} 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.

On 29 March 2023, he was elected as the Leader of Opposition, replacing Frank Bainimarama.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Seruiratu-elected-Opposition-Leader-xr4f58/ |title=Seruiratu elected Opposition Leader |publisher=Fijivillage |date= 29 March 2023 |accessdate=29 March 2023}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Opposition-splits-in-2---One-led-by-Seruiratu-the-other-will-be-led-by-Naivalurua-x54rf8/ |title=Opposition splits in 2 - One led by Seruiratu, the other will be led by Naivalurua |publisher=Fiji Village |author= Navitalai Naivalurua |date=5 August 2024 |access-date=5 August 2024}}