The interim Prime Minister has stressed that nothing and no one will stop the interim government from seeing the electoral changes through before the next general elections.
When questioned by Fijivillage on what the interim government would do in light of the opposition by the political parties in relation to the proposed changes to the electoral system, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Fiji will definitely have a new voting system.
“If you will listen to what I have said, we said that even with opposition from Australia and New Zealand, we are adamant in moving forward, so there’s nothing that’s going to stop us”.
The interim Prime Minister had also stressed that the Pacific Forum cannot decide on whether Fiji's electoral system needs to change.
"It’s is more important for Fiji to agree on a better way forward under the People’s Charter then just having an election in March 2009 under the current seriously flawed and undemocratically electoral system. Pacific Forum cannot decide for Fiji on this issue. At the Presidents Dialogue forum we should agree to change the electoral system, legally and constitutionally, and in a bodily acceptable world that is support by the majority of the people of Fiji. Once we agree on the change and how it is to be done, then we can also agree on the date of the election and how soon we can have it. Under the new electoral system, according to the Independent Electoral Commission it will take at least another 12 to 15 months to prepare for the election. That is why I have said that the most practical date for the general election under the new system cannot possibly be March 2009".
