On Special Parliament Sitting to Appoint the New President

The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ro Teimumu Kepa MP has issued the following statement this afternoon.

Statement on the Special Parliament Sitting to Appoint the New President of Fiji

August 30th, 2018

“The Fiji Parliamentary Opposition expresses its gross disappointment and deep concern on fast tracking of the process to appoint the next President of Fiji when Fiji has time until October of this year to do that.

“We see no warranted reason to rush the process and strongly believe there needs to be consensus building on the matter given the President is the head of the state symbolizing the unity of the nation and also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.

“The Opposition is also of the view that following the declaration made by the Fiji Court of Appeal in April, 2009 in ABU007 of 2009 that the 1997 Constitution, which was done with wider consultation with the people of Fiji, is still the supreme law of Fiji and the Bose Levu Vakaturaga must have the right to choose the Head of State.

“There should have been wider consultation and more time allowed before taking such an important and far reaching decision. The SODELPA Caucus is having its consultation and we will be there with our candidate in Parliament tomorrow.”

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