Existing political parties have until midnight tonight to apply for re-registration under the Political Parties Decree.
However, none of the current political parties will be re-registered by tomorrow as the process requires more time for the Registrar of Parties to make an assessment of any applications.
This means that none of the parties can hold themselves out to be a party from Friday until they comply with the decree.
The decree states that if an existing party applies to register as a party, then it shall from the date when the application is received by the Registrar, be deemed to be a proposed political party and it must not operate or function as a political party after the expiry of the deadline.
The Registrar is expected to call for objections to the proposed party registration within 14 days after the application is made.
People will be given 7 days for any objections which takes it past the deadline.
Fijivillage asked Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum what happens to the current parties who have not even applied for re-registration as yet.
He has made it clear that the requirements under the decree have to be followed.
Meanwhile the office of the Registrar for Political Parties will remain open until midnight tonight to allow maximum time for existing political parties to register.
The Registrar, Mere Vuniwaqa said staff would be on hand to receive applications after normal business hours.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
