Fiji's fourth general election to the House of Representatives was held in 1982. Its paradoxical results were both a triumph and a setback for the Fijian Alliance Party of the Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. The Alliance captured an unprecedented 51.8 percent of the popular vote - the first time that it had received an absolute majority. However, it won only 28 seats, 8 fewer than at the previous election of September 1977. Part of the reason for this discrepancy was the surge in support for Ratu Mara's Alliance in the Indo-Fijian community, from 14 percent to almost 24 percent, was not sufficient to translate into seats in Fiji's communal electoral system, and did not therefore off-set losses among the ethnic Fijian community, particularly in the west of the country. The Western United Front of Ratu Osea Gavidi won only two seats, but split the vote, allowing the National Federation party, with which it tactically allied itself, to pick up six seats for a total of 22.
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