Preparations for Fiji’s long-awaited municipal elections are continuing, with the polls set to proceed once the country’s financial and economic conditions improve.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said much of the preparatory work had already been completed, but the Government would wait for Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel to determine when the country’s finances could support holding the elections.
“When the Minister of Finance says that the financial and economic climate is okay, it’ll go ahead,” Mr Rabuka said.
“Because most of the preparations have already been done.”
Mr Rabuka’s comments come after Cabinet decided in May to defer the municipal elections until after the next general election, citing the impact of the global fuel crisis on Government finances.
However, the economic outlook has since improved. Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel recently said easing tensions in the Middle East, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and global oil prices falling below $US80 a barrel had helped ease the fuel crisis.
The improved conditions have already resulted in lower fuel and LPG prices in Fiji from July following reductions announced by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), with the Government expecting the easing trend to continue benefiting the economy.
When asked by this newspaper whether funding redirected from initiatives such as the municipal elections during the fuel crisis would be restored, Mr Immanuel confirmed it would.
The Government had planned to hold Fiji’s first municipal elections in about 20 years this September after years of legal reforms, voter registration and other preparations.
Those plans were shelved as global oil prices surged and Fiji responded to the fuel crisis, prompting the Government to redirect funding to more immediate priorities.
At the time, Mr Rabuka said the Government could not justify spending an estimated $18million on municipal elections while facing rising fuel prices, pressure on public finances, higher transport costs and the need to prioritise essential services.
Although the 2026-2027 National Budget contains no specific allocation for municipal elections, it provides $23.2million to the Fijian Elections Office for parliamentary elections and “any other elections required under law”.
