Constitution first referendum vote on December

Fijians will vote in the country’s first referendum on Wednesday, December 9, on whether to accept the proposed amendments to the 2013 Constitution.

Announcing the date in Denarau yesterday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the results could be expected by December 14.

This comes days after President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu assented to the National Referendum Act last week.

Writ

The President will issue the writ on November 9, and overseas voters will also be able to vote.

The referendum will only go ahead if Parliament passes the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 by a two-thirds majority.

A select committee has 30 days to review the Bill before it goes to its third reading in November.

The referendum question has not yet been finalised.

Asked what voters would be asked, Mr Rabuka said: “No, that has not been formulated.”

Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said there would be one question.

“The whole idea of referendum is supposed to be simple,” he said.

Mr Turaga said his office would take awareness programmes to the 14 provinces and urban areas in different languages.

There is no backup plan if voters reject the proposed amendments.

“We can’t have a contingency plan. That’s got to be the will of the people,” Mr Rabuka said.

He has also asked the Electoral Commission to suspend general election campaigning.

“When December 9 comes, the decision will be yours,” he said.