In addition to a struggling economy, significant campaign issues included the national debt, ethnic tensions and tackling poverty.

The newly formed People's Alliance (PA) secured 21 seats, while its coalition partner, the National Federation Party (NFP), won five.

Negotiations to form a government began following the election, with FijiFirst and the PA-NFP coalition seeking to win over the kingmaker SODELPA.

[5] SODELPA's governing board elected Viliame Gavoka to lead the party in November 2020, replacing former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

[11][12][13] On 30 October 2022, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced, when he visited President Wiliame Katonivere, that elections would be held on 14 December 2022.

[16] Members of the Parliament of Fiji are elected from a single nationwide constituency by open list proportional representation with an electoral threshold of 5%.

[24] However, professor Jon Fraenkel of Victoria University, warned the amendment would risk disenfranchising voters, particularly married women who have adopted their spouse's surname.

[25] On 2 September 2022, parliament passed a controversial amendment that would increase the power of the elections supervisor, permitting them to obtain documents on any citizens for any reason.

[27] Attorney-General Sayed-Khaiyum, who introduced the bill to parliament, blasted the opposition for allegedly not raising concerns when similar measures were included in different acts in the past.

[33] The party highlighted its record in government and focused on job creation, particularly for the youth, and sought to increase spending for the tourism industry and environmental conservation.

[41] Gavoka ruled out entering a coalition with the People's Alliance and the NFP, partly due to his refusal to cooperate with Prasad or Rabuka.

[42][43] Former opposition whip Felipe Tuisawau slammed SODELPA for including three former soldiers who participated in the 2006 coup d'état on the party list.

[44] The People's Alliance party led by former Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka promised to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to "heal the pains and scars" caused by previous coups.

[47] Rabuka said he favours close ties with Australia and supported western-style democracy, adding that Fiji will pivot away from Chinese influence under his leadership.

[48][49] On 6 December, deputy leaders of the People's Alliance party, Lynda Tabuya and Dan Lobendahn were both charged with vote buying and for breaching campaign rules.

The NFP also pledged to repeal the iTaukei Land Trust Act of 2021 and "begin work on national consultations on health, education, poverty and the economy".

[55] Former prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who governed from 1999 until his overthrow in the 2000 coup d'état,[56] led the Fiji Labour Party (FLP) into the election.

[59][10] The party also promised to restore corporal punishment and release prisoners who are serving life imprisonment to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary of Independence.

[77] The NFP brought up several issues with the FEO that allegedly occurred during the electoral process, including the presence of FijiFirst advertisements in public areas during the media blackout and election officials interfering with voters.

[82] The final results which was released on 18 December showed no party able to secure a parliamentary majority, leading to the possibility of Fiji having a coalition government for the first time since the 2013 constitution came into effect.

FijiFirst won a plurality of 26 seats, the People's Alliance gained 21, the NFP's share increased to five, and only three SODELPA members were elected.

The next day, the 'kingmaker' party announced its list of non-negotiable terms which included bringing back the Great Council of Chiefs, providing free tertiary education, forgiving student loans, and establishing an embassy in Jerusalem.

[100][101] After the announcement, SODELPA's general secretary Duru resigned, claiming there was irregularities in the management board's vote and demanded that the result be declared null and void.

[104] On 21 December, the FijiFirst party refused to concede defeat; general secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said it can only be called after the election of the prime minister by parliament.

[105] He also questioned the validity of the new coalition citing concerns raised previously by SODELPA's outgoing general secretary and called Rabuka divisive.

"[111] National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad confirmed the president would call parliament to sit on 24 December, where coalition lawmakers would vote for Rabuka to become prime minister.

[120] On 21 December, the Fiji Police Force received reports of harassment and stoning incidents targeting homes and businesses of Indo-Fijians.

[121] Prime Minister and FijiFirst leader Frank Bainimarama labelled the reports "highly disturbing" and said the attacks were "fuelled by racist vitriol on social media".

[126] The next day, deputy police commissioner and chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned as he did not see the need for the country's military to be mobilised.

[127] Observers pointed out many Fijians feared the government's claims of ethnic violence and the military deployment as a pretext for a "creeping coup".