Constitution review hears calls for GCC-appointed President

Restoring greater authority to Fiji's Head of State and giving the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) the power to appoint the President were among the key submissions made to the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) in Nagado, Nadi, yesterday.

Villager Emosi Raura told commissioners that the President should be selected by the GCC and hold the highest authority in the country, rather than the Prime Minister.

He argued that the President should serve as the ultimate guardian of the nation and be entrusted with full executive powers to protect the interests of all Fijians.

Mr Raura said the proposal would help strengthen traditional leadership structures and ensure the country's highest office remained independent of political influence.

"The President must have full authority and control of Fiji," he told the commission.

He also called for the reinstatement of laws and constitutional provisions relating to iTaukei rights that were removed during previous constitutional reforms, saying these protections should be restored.

Mr Raura further argued that Fiji should move away from laws inherited from the colonial era and develop legislation that better reflects the country's identity, values and traditions.

Supporting the submission, village headman Irami Bokoi said many villagers believed the GCC should once again play a central role in selecting the nation's President.

He said the GCC had long been respected as a traditional institution that brought together the voices of indigenous communities from across the country.

"The President should be someone chosen through a process that reflects our traditions and culture," he said.

Mr Bokoi said supporters of the proposal believed a President appointed through the GCC would be better positioned to act as a unifying national figure above party politics and provide stability during times of political disagreement.

The submissions highlighted growing interest among some communities in redefining the balance of power in government and strengthening the role of traditional institutions in Fiji's leadership structure.