Will there be a change in the electoral system for Fiji before the next elections?
That can only happen if the 2013 Constitution is also changed.
When questioned by fijivillage News, Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says Electoral Law Reform Commission Chairperson, Daniel Fatiaki is totally correct after he stressed today that the new electoral system cannot come into place without constitutional change.
Rabuka says while previous electoral arrangements were contained in Electoral Acts, the provisions for the elections since the ‘purported’ promulgation of the 2013 Constitution are contained in the Constitution, particularly Chapter 3 thereof.
Meanwhile Fatiaki who is the former Chief Justice says they want to leave a legacy behind that will benefit the future generations.
The Chairperson says he is going to give the best electoral system through his report that the people deserve, however, it depends on the people on how they want to run with it.
Fatiaki says he can't guarantee that his report will see the light of day because the Constitution is a huge barrier to implementation.
He further says no matter what the government's will is they will still have to move ahead with the Constitution if it remains unchanged.
Fatiaki says it's between now and February 27th to get the constitutional changes put in place and adopt their electoral recommendations.
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