Watch Govt spending before election: Malimali to Electoral Commission

Former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali is urging the Electoral Commission to scrutinise Government expenditure during the current pre-election period.

Ms Malimali said that infrastructure spending and handouts ahead of elections expected by February 2027 risk crossing into vote-buying.

Speaking from the floor during the State of the Fijian Economy Dialogue at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, Ms Malimali pointed to a surge in roadworks and bridge repairs she observed in the Western Division and questioned whether such spending was appropriate this close to polling.

“With eight months to go, should we be spending so much?” she asked.

“Should we be taking our expenditures to the Electoral Commission to have a look at, for the sake of transparency?”

Fiji Labour Party leader and a former prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry backed the call, saying the current government should operate as a caretaker administration and have its spending scrutinised.

“There is no doubt that we see instances of vote buying under the disguise of assisting the people,” Mr Chaudhry said.

“The Electoral Commission must play its role.”

Unity Fiji party leader and a former Reserve Bank Governor, Savenaca Narube agreed, saying the Government was effectively buying votes with public money.

“It’s buying votes not with their money – our money,” Mr Narube said.

However, National Federation Party leader and former Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad pushed back, saying no caretaker provisions exist under the current Constitution or electoral laws.

“Government is not in a caretaker mode and it can only be, as a matter of principle, in a caretaker mode after Parliament is dissolved,” Mr Prasad said.

Former Minister for Finance Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum acknowledged the concern, saying unbudgeted capital projects and the distribution of groceries and goods warranted oversight by the Electoral Commission.