SO, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has declared that the Government will face the consequences when the time comes regarding the fate of the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill 32.
That isn’t a tough call. It appears to reflect the political reality confronting his Coalition Government.
His coalition partners have made it clear they will not support the legislation and intend to vote against it.
Responding to the National Federation Party’s decision, Mr Rabuka maintained his focus remained on refining the draft Bill rather than pursuing what he described as a face-saving exercise.
The other coalition partner, SODELPA, has also made its position clear. It will vote against the Bill, despite questions being raised by Deputy Prime Minister and party member Viliame Gavoka and members of its Nadroga branch. Mr Gavoka has expressed disappointment with the direction the party is taking. The move, he said, could inflict irreparable damage on the party.
Mr Rabuka appeared to brush aside the immediate political fallout after NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad announced that his party would direct its MPs to oppose the crucial legislation in Parliament this week.
The PM said his priority was to use the remaining time before the Bill was tabled to improve its contents in the best interests of the country.
He maintained that the Government would deal with the parliamentary outcome when it arrived, rather than compromise the process simply to save political face.
We know Professor Prasad had written to Mr Rabuka on October 29 outlining the NFP’s concerns. These included the 19-day consultation period from October 12 to 31, the absence of translations into vernacular languages and limited opportunities for meaningful public engagement, including question-and-answer sessions. He also confirmed that the NFP would withdraw from the Special Parliamentary Committee reviewing the proposed legislation. The latest developments come in the face of growing public interest in the Constitution debate. Kadavu has voted to remove the 2013 Constitution, while the vanua o Lau has called for the Bill to proceed to its third reading and then to a referendum, giving people an opportunity to express their views.
It insists people have waited a long time to be asked their view about the 2013 Constitution.
The Bill is expected to be tabled by the PM this Friday for its third reading. Under the 2013 Constitution, the proposed amendment requires 35 votes from sitting MPs to pass. The PM appears to have a guaranteed 31 votes from People’s Alliance MPs and former Opposition MPs known as the G11.
That leaves a massive gap. And this is where the political reality becomes difficult to ignore. A constitutional amendment of such significance requires convincing parliamentary support, public confidence and a process that commands legitimacy. The Government must recognise that constitutional reform is bigger than coalition politics or the fortunes of individual parties. Let’s face it, this concerns the future governance of our nation and the rights of generations to come.
The PM may be prepared to face the wall when the vote arrives. But sceptics may wonder whether the Government has done enough to convince Parliament and the people that this is the right way forward. Should we be talking about clarity, consultation and trust?
