People’s Alliance general secretary Sila Balawa has questioned whether political parties that campaigned for constitutional change in 2022 made promises simply to secure votes, only to turn away from those commitments now.
Mr Balawa said parties that sought public support on the promise of amending the 2013 Constitution must explain why their positions appeared to have changed.
“So, what happens when those who campaigned for change begin to turn away from it? Did you make these promises only to win the people’s votes?” he asked.
In a statement, Mr Balawa said constitutional reform was a key issue raised with voters, particularly the iTaukei community, during the 2022 General Election campaign.
“In 2022, we went to the people and campaigned hard. We spoke about changing or amending the 2013 Constitution. We spoke to our iTaukei people about the need for change.
“These promises were part of what we told the people when asking for their votes.”
He said Parliament now had the numbers to discuss and consider constitutional amendments, making it important for political parties to honour their election commitments.
Mr Balawa questioned whether parties opposing constitutional changes had forgotten the voters who placed their trust in them.
“If a party promised change in 2022 but does not want change now, its supporters have every right to ask why.
“What has changed? Has the promise changed, or has the party forgotten the people who trusted it?”
He said political parties could not campaign on promises of change and then expect voters to remain silent when those commitments were not fulfilled.
“The painful question is this: Were the people told the truth in 2022, or were they simply told what they wanted to hear so that their votes could be won?”
Mr Balawa urged iTaukei voters and supporters of all political parties to question their representatives and compare current positions with promises made during the election campaign.
“Remember what you were told. Compare those promises with the positions being taken today. Every political party must be answerable to the people.”
He said the issue went beyond constitutional reform and concerned the trust between political leaders and the people who elected them.
“Because when politicians ask for your vote, they are asking for your trust. And when that trust is questioned, the people deserve answers.”
