Opposition MP Virendra Lal has questioned the fairness of asking Fijians to vote on a single referendum question covering multiple proposed constitutional amendments.
Mr Lal said voters could support some provisions of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 while strongly opposing others, creating a dilemma for those required to choose between a “Yes” or “No” vote.
“What happens to a citizen who agrees with 60 per cent of the proposed changes but disagrees with the remaining 40 per cent?” he asked.
Mr Lal said voters could be forced to accept provisions they opposed to secure changes they supported, or reject reforms they believed would benefit the country.
He said the proposed amendments covered important issues affecting governance, citizens’ rights, the electoral system and the future of Fiji’s democracy.
“Why should that person be forced to accept changes they oppose simply because they support other parts of the Bill?” he asked.
Mr Lal said the Government needed to consider whether fundamentally different constitutional issues should be presented as separate referendum questions, allowing voters to express their preferences on individual matters.
He clarified that he was not suggesting every provision must necessarily be put to a separate referendum, but said the Government should seriously consider how a single question would reflect the people’s actual views.
“The Government must also recognise that a majority voting ‘Yes’ to an entire package does not necessarily mean that a majority supports every provision contained within that package,” he said.
Similarly, he said a majority voting “No” would not necessarily mean the people opposed constitutional reform altogether.
Mr Lal also raised concerns about public understanding of the proposed amendments, saying many Fijians might not fully understand their legal and practical implications.
He said insufficient time to study, understand and debate the changes could increase confusion and the risk of uninformed decision-making.
“This is precisely why I have consistently raised concerns about the Government’s determination to rush the constitutional amendment process,” he said.
He called on the Prime Minister and the Government to explain how the referendum would accommodate differing public views on the proposed changes.
Mr Lal said constitutional reform must be based on genuine public understanding, meaningful consultation and the free expression of the people’s will.
“It must never become an exercise in which citizens feel compelled to accept provisions they oppose in order to secure changes they support,” he said.
