Predicted by a game

El Presidente's traits in the computer game Tropico are incredibly applicable to leaders around the world, especially those with less than solid democratic institutions.  In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduras is  a man of the people, elected as a socialist who is charismatic but also moronic (in tune with Hugo Chavez), as Venezuela collapses.  Fidel Castro is a 'professor' (well, lawyer) who succeeds to power by communist rebellion, is hard-working but pompous.  In Fiji, Frank Bainimarama is a generalissimo who is elected as a fascist has a positive trait of being an administrator yet a flaw of being paranoid.

Bainimarama, a coup leader in 2006 who, in theory, renounced his military rank to run in elections held last year and become Fiji's chief executive.  The ballot was described as 'credible' (one level below 'free and fair') by international observers.  Bainimarama's latest wheeze to maximise his own power is by designating a new flag in time for the 45th anniversary of independence from Britain, this October.  Tellingly, he made this announcement near to the military barracks where his own coup in 2006 and another in 1987 received support. Bainimarama was open about this himself.

The current Fijian flag has not just the Union Flag in the hoist but many chiefly symbols as well.  Bainimarama has already dissolved the great council of chiefs and to remove their imagery from the national flag.  Chiefly power represents the source of his greatest opposition and is not something a man of Bainimarama's calibre is prepared to tolerate.  As part of trying to unite a country divided between indigenous Fijians and Those of Indian descent, Bainimarama has adopted the French model of everyone being Fijian, irrespective of background.  He launched his coup against an Indo-Fijian president and this assimilation process makes it harder for them to mobilise their support.

Fiji is not alone in its authorities seeking a change in national vexilloids.  New Zealand will be holding a referendum with the government urging a change to a silver fern, not unlike the maple leaf in Canada.  Although Bainimarama has invited public input, he will not be allowing the public to choose it.  I guess once a generalissimo, always a generalissimo.