Will PM appoint the next AG from outside parliament?

Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua says Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka is ready to make a decision soon when asked on whether an Attorney General from outside parliament is expected to be appointed this week.

Tikoduadua says this is not his prerogative but he knows that the Prime Minister is ready to make an appointment.

Rabuka has been having meetings after the cabinet meeting, and is expected to have a press conference this afternoon.

fijivillage News understands that a person from outside parliament is being considered to be the next Attorney General, while Filimoni Vosarogo will take up the Minister for Justice portfolio and Siromi Turaga is likely to take up the Lands and Mineral Resources portfolio.

According to Section 96 (3) of the Fijian Constitution, if the Prime Minister considers that there are no members of Parliament who belong to any political party in coalition with the Prime Minister’s political party; who are qualified, suitable or available to be appointed as the Attorney General, then the Prime Minister may appoint a person who is not a member of Parliament as the Attorney General if that person is a legal practitioner who is qualified to be appointed as the Attorney General; and is qualified to be a candidate for election to Parliament.

A person appointed as the Attorney General under this section shall be entitled to take part in Cabinet as a Minister, and to sit in Parliament, provided however that he or she shall not be eligible to vote in Parliament.

Any person appointed as the Attorney General must not, during the term of his or her appointment as the Attorney General, practice as a legal practitioner in a law firm or have any interest in a law firm or have any law firm practice under his or her name.