Fiji election 2026: Candidates may face $300k campaign spending limit

Candidates contesting the 2026/27 General Election will be barred from spending more than $300,000 on their campaigns, while political parties will face a $3 million cap.

This is according to the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which was gazetted last week and is yet to be passed by Parliament.

The Bill also removes the existing limit on how much a party or candidate can receive in donations and lifts the ban on donations from foreign citizens and former Fiji citizens.

However, donations must be declared to the Registrar of Political Parties within 60 days of polling day. Declared donations will be published on the Registrar’s website.

Under the proposed Bill, any breach of the new spending limits will be treated as a corrupt electoral practice, carrying penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for a party under a related Bill.

Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said in the Bill’s explanatory note that the changes responded to recommendations by the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) following past elections.

“The Bill categorises electoral offences. The Bill also removes disclosure requirements for office holders and candidates, sets campaign expenditure limits for political parties and candidates and removes the limit to donations,” the note stated.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (EC) and Fijian Elections Office (FEO) said last week that the proposed law changes would not affect their readiness to conduct the next election, due between now and February 6, 2027.

The Bill must first be referred to Parliament’s Standing Committee before it can be voted on.