The chairman of Pacific Islands Leaders Forum said all they can do now is just hope that Fiji's Interim Prime Minister keeps his promise and holds elections in March 2009.
Tongan Prime Minister Doctor Feleti Sevele said the Forum was told in Nuku'alofa that the next elections in Fiji would be under the current constitution but he is now hearing statements that this may not be the case.
"I think at the end of the day that decision is theirs but I’m not so sure about … is it electoral reforms? Is it? I think the decision of the Forum was quite clear that the elections would be held within the provisions of the Constitution.
"I’m not too sure. As I’ve said I haven’t seen the details as to exactly what are the reforms. I know there was reference to electoral reforms and I know that there’s been talk about other reforms in terms of eligibility etc. But it’s too early, yet, for me to comment on what has come out of Fiji."
Doctor Sevele said he cannot say much on what the Forum can do, if Fiji maintains that there will be no elections in the first quarter of 2009.
"It is a decision made by the government of Fiji not to hold it. We were hoping that things would move towards elections next year. I’m not too sure as to what the reasons are for the statement that they cannot hold them next year."
The Pacific Islands Leaders Forum will be held in Niue from the 19th to the 21st of next month.
