People’s Alliance Party general secretary Sila Balawa has questioned SODELPA’s decision not to support the third reading of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 in its current form, saying the party must explain its position to supporters.
In a statement, Mr Balawa said SODELPA had campaigned on protecting iTaukei interests and opposing the 2013 Constitution during the 2014, 2018 and 2022 General Elections.
He said constitutional reform was also part of the Coalition Government’s agreement, which committed the parties to reviewing the Constitution and considering amendments.
Mr Balawa said the Government did not have the parliamentary numbers to amend the Constitution in 2022, when constitutional amendments required a 75 per cent majority, or at least 42 votes in the 55-seat Parliament.
Following the 2022 General Election, the Coalition Government comprised 29 MPs, while FijiFirst held 26 seats.
The political landscape changed after FijiFirst was deregistered in July 2024, with its MPs becoming Independents.
In January 2025, nine former FijiFirst MPs joined the Government, followed by two more in March, bringing the number of Independents supporting the Government to 11.
Mr Balawa said a Supreme Court clarification on August 29, 2025, established a two-thirds parliamentary majority requirement for constitutional amendments at the second and third readings, replacing the previous three-quarters threshold.
He said that, according to the Speaker’s ruling, 35 votes were required if all 53 MPs occupying parliamentary seats were present and seated.
The People’s Alliance has 20 MPs, the National Federation Party four and the 11 Independents supporting the Government, giving them a combined 35 votes.
Mr Balawa said this meant the Government could secure the required numbers without SODELPA’s three MPs, provided all 35 MPs supported the Bill.
He questioned why SODELPA was withholding its support when constitutional reform had been a key part of its political platform.
“SODELPA has every right to scrutinise Bill 32, but it also has a responsibility to explain to its supporters why it is refusing to support the Bill in its current form,” he said.
Mr Balawa said the Government could not be blamed for failing to amend the Constitution when it lacked the numbers, only for the process to be opposed when the parliamentary numbers and legal pathway were available.
He said the question was whether SODELPA still stood by the promises it made to voters in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 elections.
