Leader of Opposition (LOP) Inia Seruiratu says he is happy the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) has convened.
It was Mr Seruiratu’s inaugural COC meeting as LOP, which he attended alongside nominee Tupou Draunidalo.
Yesterday Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka addressed concerns on the delay in convening a face-to-face meeting of the COC.
“You will recall that for a period there, we did not have an Opposition and we didn’t have a leader of the Opposition,” Mr Rabuka said.
“So there were no nominees from the LOP until that position was filled, then the FijiFirst party was suspended.”
He said Government would get a clarification from the courts on the effect of a suspension on elected members of a Parliament.
Mr Rabuka said presently, there were different interpretations applied to political parties, including Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), and the National Federation Party.
He also said if the Electoral Commission nominees were approved by the President, they could convene as early as the next few days to confirm the candidates who would take up the two vacant seats in Parliament.
“I’m sure it can be done, there’s no work holiday for the President and the chair of the COC. If I sign it now, it can be approved in the next hour.”
