The National Federation Party (NFP) has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 2013 Constitution, describing it as a “just outcome” that returns power to the people and clears the path for a truly democratic constitutional reform process.
The Supreme Court ruled this afternoon that while a two-thirds majority in Parliament is still required to pass constitutional amendments, the referendum threshold has been significantly lowered, from an impractical 75% of all registered voters to a simple majority of those who vote.
NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad said the ruling marked a turning point in Fiji’s democratic journey.
“We have yet to take legal advice on the full legal implications of the case. However, we believe the outcome is a just one. It returns to Fiji’s people genuine democratic control over their own supreme law,” He said.
He called for the next step to be a nationwide constitutional dialogue, involving a fully representative review commission.
“Now we can move to the next phase — to begin a full national dialogue into the constitution we all want, with a fully representative constitutional review commission where all our people are heard and their views respected and taken into account.”
Prof Prasad also framed the Court’s opinion as a moment of reckoning with Fiji’s political past.
“This is a day for our citizens to celebrate and to begin the process of rebuilding our law and governance, finally consigning to history the legacy of dictatorship and disrespect of Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.”
The Court’s ruling clarified that the 2013 Constitution is legally effective, but not immune from reform, and has removed barriers that previously made it virtually unchangeable.