FEO: Possible delay to municipal elections will not affect 2026 polls

The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) says a possible delay to the September local government elections will not significantly disrupt its preparations.

This is because resources are being shared with preparations for the upcoming general election.

Yesterday, Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa said she had not received any instruction from the Electoral Commission following Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s announcement that the Government may postpone the municipal polls because of fiscal pressures linked to the ongoing fuel crisis.

“As of now, I have not received any instruction from the Electoral Commission, but it’s a developing story,” Ms Mataiciwa said.

She said the 11,333 election officials recruited during Phase One of the FEO’s recruitment drive, the confirmed polling venues, and the voter registration programme were all designed to support both elections.

“If there is a deferment in the local government elections, these election officials will be used for the general election,” she said.

Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel confirmed the Government had already advanced $5 million for election preparations, which he said was intended to cover the local government elections, general election, and referendum.

He rejected claims by the Fiji Labour Party that the Government could not fund the polls.

“We are prepared for that. We budgeted for that,” Mr Immanuel said.

The cost of the municipal elections is estimated at about $14 million.

Mr Rabuka announced on Monday that the Government may reconsider holding the September polls — the first local government elections since 2005 — amid budget pressures.

The local government elections would see 141 councillors elected across 13 municipal councils.

More than 6000 people have registered so far for the local government elections.