THE draft Constitution is expected to be ready by August 31, with Government also preparing proposed changes to electoral laws before the next general election.
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga said the Government remained committed to working within the Elections Office’s constitutional timeline, but any plans to bring forward the election would depend on the passage of the proposed new laws.
Mr Turaga made the comments after the Fiji Elections Office (FEO) announced it was ready to conduct the general election and was awaiting confirmation from respective executives.
The FEO said in a statement that regardless of the outcome or timing of the legislative process, the Electoral Commission (EC) and the FEO remain ready to discharge its respective constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
“The EC and the FEO stand ready to conduct the General Election within the constitutionally established timeframe,” it said.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Turaga said the FEO had presented to Cabinet last Tuesday, including issues from the 2022 election such as the low registration rate of Fijians living overseas.
“Government wants to increase overseas voter registration, with the FEO having a schedule of activities planned for October,” he said.
“And also important Bills will be tabled in Parliament before the end of the week. There will be changes to the ballot paper, changes to some of the rules.”
He said the proposed changes had been discussed with the FEO and would be brought to Parliament following the endorsement of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Turaga said the Government was currently working towards an election timeline “around December to February, while the immediate focus remained on the draft Constitution.
He said the draft would be tabled in Parliament before the country proceeded to a referendum.
Mr Turaga said the election date (within the constitutional timeframe) would ultimately depend on the proposed electoral laws being passed and receiving the full endorsement of the EC.
