Despite acceptance from neighbours Australia and New Zealand, two of the four registered political parties in Fiji remain adamant they will not support the Constitution. Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Senior Executive Tupeni Baba says the two countries have no say in domestic politics. In no way will Australia and New Zealand push us to elections. If we do get to elections when we decide, that the provisions are sufficiently flexible sufficiently fair and transparent then we will urge the people in Fiji to come with us. Question: What I can make out is you do not want elections to happen next year? Well not under the current provisions until the elections can be shown to be independently managed,” said Baba. The National Federation Party’s Raman Pratap Singh says Australia and New Zealand’s acceptance of the Constitution doesn’t matter.
Australia and New Zealand are member s of the international community our neighbours they have given sort of a green light to this constitution but we have to understand is that everybody is in the pursuit of democracy, we have to live under this constitution and as such we have a different perspective to look at it.
Australian and New Zealand, two of the biggest critics of the Bainimarama government, have softened their stand on Fiji.
They are ready to back elections under current circumstances and under the soon to be assented Constitution.
Fiji’s Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says despite what’s coming from the political front, the government will hold elections in September 2014.
