‘When are we going to have elections?’ — Seruiratu questions Govt

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has publicly questioned when Fiji will hold its next General Election, raising concerns in Parliament yesterday as the constitutional review process moves toward a tight deadline.

“The big question that the people are asking is, are we going to have elections? When are we going to have elections?” Mr Seruiratu said.

He was responding to a ministerial statement by Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga on the work of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and its public outreach team, PACE.

The next General Election can be called anytime between August 7, 2026, and February 6, 2027.

The CRC, which is reviewing the 2013 Constitution, is expected to submit its final report by August 31, 2026.

Mr Seruiratu pointed to the recent deferral of Municipal Council elections as a worrying sign.

The Government recently confirmed that the Local Government Elections, originally planned for September, would be postponed until after the General Election, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka citing voter fatigue concerns and the estimated $18 million cost.

“One is gone, the Municipal Council elections. Is this a statement that is meant to do some shaping, given the end state that government intends to achieve?” Mr Seruiratu asked.

He also noted that much of Mr Turaga’s statement repeated comments already made by the Prime Minister in Parliament last month.

In his ministerial statement, Mr Turaga revealed that $500,000 of the $1 million Cabinet-approved budget for the constitutional review had already been spent on CRC appointments, supplies and travel.

He also called on all Government ministries to treat the constitutional review as a national priority.

Mr Seruiratu said while he supported broad public participation in the review process, sensitive issues raised during consultations needed careful handling.

He warned that ethno-political and socio-economic matters being discussed in communities carried historical sensitivities for Fiji.