Ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase is hoping that the interim government will take the advice from the Pacific Forum seriously to have elections by March next year and not to face suspension.
After hearing the news that the Forum has taken the stand, Qarase said it will not be wise for the interim government not to have election in March as they will lose out on a lot.
“I just hope that interim government will sit down and consider a suggestion advice from Pacific Islands Forum on what we need to look at and need to do and to take Fiji back to democratic rule. I think that the important thing ahead of us, I also welcome decisions, suggestions and the advice given by forum, they were wise decisions and recommendations, and under the circumstances do not expect the forum to make any other decision that are different from what they have done. It is really onto Fiji where we go from now, I would suggest that the best thing for the interim government to do is to sit down without emotions consider the recommendations and suggestions from the forum take us forward according to some of those recommendations and suggestions. I think if they do that, we will get back to democratic rule very quickly”.
Qarase still believes that elections can be held by March, 2009 under the 1997 constitution.
‘We can still have elections by march 2009 If election is held under the 1997 constitution. No problem about that. We have been through to two elections in 2001 and 2006, my government was involved and we organized the entire process and completed within a period of six months so we still have time and there’s absolutely no excuses as to why we can’t have elections by March 2009 under the 1997 constitution. The interim government has been making excuses all this time simply for the purpose of delaying elections”.
