Former long-serving permanent secretary Jioji Kotobalavu says the National Federation Party (NFP) and Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) should resign from Cabinet if they cannot support the Government’s Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.
He said its defeat in Parliament could trigger the resignation of the Government and fresh general elections.
Mr Kotobalavu said the two coalition partners had publicly declared their opposition to the Bill in its current form and should respect the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility by withdrawing from Government.
He argued that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka could continue governing with the support of his 21 People’s Alliance MPs and the 10 or 11 cross-party and independent MPs supporting his administration.
However, he warned that if NFP and SODELPA remained in Government but voted against the Bill at its third reading, contributing to its defeat, Mr Rabuka would have no choice but to advise the President to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections.
He argued that under parliamentary convention, the defeat of such major legislation would require the Government to resign and make way for fresh elections.
The Bill requires a two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting to pass.
“The Constitution [Amendment] Bill 2026, like the Government’s annual Budget Bill, is a major legislation,” he said.
“It is about our Constitution as the supreme law of Fiji.”
Mr Kotobalavu also pointed to the 2022 election results, noting that The People’s Alliance secured 21 seats, compared with five for NFP and three for SODELPA.
“The next general elections will be held under the provisions of the 2013 Constitution and there is a high probability that this will enable The People’s Alliance party to win enough seats to form the next Government on its own, but still not enough to make up the two-thirds majority vote required for a PAP government-sponsored Constitution Amendment Bill to pass in Parliament.
“In this circumstance, the alternative approach available to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is to adopt a statesman-like approach and invite the parliamentary Opposition to form a Joint Government-Opposition Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution Review to resume work on the 2013 Constitution review through a national bipartisan approach.
“This was the same approach that produced the 1997 Constitution by unanimous parliamentary vote.
“Such a united bipartisan approach in Parliament will also help to maximise popular support for the new Constitution in the public referendum to follow.
