As the February 14th deadline approaches for the re-registration of existing political parties, the Fiji Labour Party has said that it will take the next step in relation to the decree with the SDL, United People's Party, the National Federation Party and the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions.
FLP Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry said an option is to challenge the legality of the Registration of Political Parties Decree as he said it is made by an unelected government.
Under the decree, the existing parties will cease to exist after the 28 days deadline if they fail to re-register.
Fijivillage asked Chaudhry whether he is taking that into account as the FLP will cease to exist if they do not re-register or meet the criteria set out.
He said people will just have to wait and see how they exist going into the elections.
He also confirmed that the offer from Rajendra Chaudhry to seek a Senior Counsel to legally challenge the decree will be discussed by the group of parties known as the United Front for a Democratic Fiji.
He is also refusing to say whether he will remain the leader of FLP and resign as the National Farmers Union General Secretary as he cannot hold positions under the decree.
Chaudhry said he cannot reveal anything further as they are holding discussions to save the existing parties by looking at all the options.
However Rajendra Chaudhry who has been suspended from practice as a legal practitioner in Fiji until March 2017 for professional misconduct and one count of unsatisfactory professional conduct, has told Pacific Beat that he is now working on getting a Senior Counsel.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
