A series of economic sanctions against Fiji were made in response to the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.
[3][4] The Government of Fiji actively opposed sanctions, as did several other countries, including China,[11] India[12] and Russia.
This meant that Bainimarama was three times more popular among Fijians than Julia Gillard was among Australians.
79% of Fijians also disapproved of the suspension of Fiji from the Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth of Nations.
The survey was disputed by some, however, including national secretary of the Fiji Trade Union Congress, Felix Anthony.