Opposition MP Premila Kumar has questioned whether every Fijian’s vote will carry equal weight under the proposed electoral system in the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026.
Ms Kumar raised concerns about Section 64, which proposes replacing the existing open-list proportional representation system with 33 first-past-the-post constituency seats and 22 proportional party-list seats.
“A mixed system can strengthen local representation while keeping proportionality, but only if it is fair, clear and trusted. On the current Constitution text, that is not the case,” she said.
She questioned whether the proposed arrangement would disadvantage voters in larger urban constituencies compared with those in smaller maritime constituencies.
“Geography matters, but a voter in Suva Open should not have a weaker voice than a voter in a far smaller constituency.”
Ms Kumar also questioned whether voters or political party leaders would determine who entered Parliament through the 22 party-list seats.
“The Bill does not say how list candidates will be ranked and selected,” she said.
“If closed lists are used, party leaders could decide who enters Parliament, and voters would have no say over who fills the 22 list seats.”
She warned that voters could also face limited choices if their preferred candidates or parties did not contest their constituencies.
Ms Kumar sought clarification on how seats would be allocated when parties won more constituency seats than their proportional entitlement, failed to meet the five per cent threshold despite winning constituencies, or when independent candidates received votes.
“These questions decide who sits in Parliament. The Government should publish an example showing how the system operates under different election outcomes. Voters need to know the rules.”
She also raised concerns that Section 64(2) would allow future governments to change the number of constituency and party-list seats through ordinary legislation rather than constitutional amendment.
“A future parliamentary majority could therefore change the balance between directly elected constituency MPs and party-list MPs without another constitutional amendment,” she said.
Ms Kumar called on the Government to explain how the proposed system would protect equal representation, prevent electoral manipulation and ensure voters retained meaningful control over their parliamentary representatives.
