'New Constitution could be ready before next election'
Constitution drafters working on new draft ahead of September deadline
Tuesday 21 July 2026 | 07:00
Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga in palriament on May 26, 2026.
Parliament of Fiji
Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga says constitutional drafters and consultant Professor Anthony Regan are already working from his office as the Coalition Government pushes to have a new draft Constitution ready before September 1, 2026.
Mr Turaga revealed yesterday that maximum resources within the Attorney-General's Office had been dedicated to the constitutional review.
"Right now, they're dedicated to this issue."
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He said the office was compiling and summarising public submissions before forwarding them to the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) for consideration, recommendations and drafting.
"The target date is before the first of September," he said.
Asked whether the next general election could be held under a new Constitution, Mr Turaga said it was possible but declined to make any guarantees.
"That is possible. I think that's from the submissions by the public. There's a very strong public opinion on that," he said.
"I don't want to make any predictions. It's an independent CRC appointed. We just have to wait for their recommendations, and of course the draft, before we present it to Cabinet."
Mr Turaga said the writ of election could legally be issued the day after Parliament reaches three years and six months, but the Government's immediate priority remained completing the constitutional review.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has previously said Fiji may still go to the polls under the current Constitution if reforms are not be completed in time, with the next general election due by February 2027.
