Political parties fail to cite any evidence of purported irregularities

Five political parties that approached the Electoral Commission with the allegations of irregularities in the 2014 General Election, have failed to cite any evidence of the purported irregularities.

This was highlighted by the Electoral Commission Chairman Suresh Chandra while making the Commission’s submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the Electoral Commission Report and the Joint Report on the 2014 general elections.

These political parties include SODELPA, National Federation Party, the People’s Democratic Party, the Fiji Labour Party and the Fiji United Freedom Party.

Chandra says the Electoral Commission invited the parties to submit evidence to the Commission without delay to allow them to ascertain the accuracy of those allegations.

The Chairman also stated that the Commission has accepted and actioned 19 of the 38 recommendations by the Multi‑National Observer Group on the 2014 General Election.

He says they do not have any jurisdiction in 9 recommendations and has decided to reject 10 recommendations.

Chandra says the Commission also noted that the 2014 Annual Report by the previous Electoral Commission recorded that there was difficulties faced by the previous Commission in terms of legal expertise, technical expertise and general staffing.

He says they have considered the 2014 General Election Reports extensively and have noted that most of it is now up to Parliament to determine what course of action it wishes to take.

The Chairman states that the Electoral Commission is not appointed to make any laws, nor are they authorized to amend or disregard any law but they can make rules of procedure that are consistent with existing laws.

He states that the Commission does not propose or support any changes to the Constitution.

Chandra says the Commission believes that the current rules relating to candidate eligibility are sufficient and that no further changes should be made.

He says following the amendments in the Electoral Act in February, the Commission now approves the first number in the ballot paper and has also approved that this process is to be done transparently by a ball draw and the first number in the ballot paper for the next General Election is 508.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the Commission has already heard the views of their predecessors and also those of various stakeholders regarding the 2014 Annual Report.