Fijian general election, 2009

General elections were, until recently, scheduled to be held in Fiji in March 2009. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6389504.html Fiji to hold elections next March - People's Daily Online ] ]

Context: Scheduling a return to democracy

After the military coup that occurred on 5 December 2006, it was announced that elections would be held "hopefully in 12 months, two years" by the new interim prime minister Jona Senilagakali. ^{[http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-12-07T041511Z_01_SP305135_RTRUKOC_0_US-FIJI.xml&pageNumber=1&imageid=&c
]} Later it was made clear that none of the ministers in the interim government would be allowed to contest the elections. ^{[http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200612281856/coup_leader_sets_date_for_fiji_interim_government]}

On 29 January 2007, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the coup leader and now the interim Prime Minister (having formally replaced Senilagakali on 6 January 2007) announced that the next election would be around five years away. ^{[http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/29/29fijilive02.html]} He informed a visiting regional delegation on 30-31 January that elections would have to wait until a census had been complete, a new voters' roll compiled, and boundaries of electoral districts defined. ^{[http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35522.shtml]} Meanwhile, interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum suggested using electronic voting to shorten the period of time for counting votes (currently over ten days), and thereby reduce the potential for election rigging. ^{[http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/31/Fijilive11.html]}

Later, Bainimarama announced that the election system would be changed to abolish the race-based constituencies and that elections would be held in 2010. ^{[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/20/apworld/20070220150524&sec=apworld]} It was later clarified that the interim administration has no mandate for electoral and constitutional reform, as such changes have to go through the parliamentary process; as such, the 2010 election will be held under the current race-based system, but Bainimarama stated he wished that the next government change the electoral system. ^{[http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_36157.shtml]} In mid-June 2007, the Bainimarama gave in to demands from the European Union, Australia and New Zealand to hold polls by 28 February 2009; ^{[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6981381.stm] [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/6279454.html]} he also requested assistance with election preparations. ^{[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=apppFZOgUTSg&refer=australia]}

The deposed PM Laisenia Qarase stated he would contest the elections. ^{[http://www.stuff.co.nz/3994326a12.html]}

By contrast, Bainimarama said that he has no intention of taking part in the election [ [http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=4979 "Fiji’s PM opts out of Politics"] , Radio Fiji, October 23, 2007] .

In March 2008, responding to regional pressure for concrete evidence of his commitment to hold elections in 2009, Bainimarama argued::"“Elections are central to democracy but they are not always, on their own, a magic or quick-fix solution. How can an election, on its own, make a difference when it is based on divisive and race based communal electoral arrangements? How can an election, on its own, solve the deep differences that our constitution has perpetuated between the different races in our country? Unless there are fundamental reforms, how can an election succeed where it will take us straight back to the grimy old politics of self interest, cronyism and scam mongering?” [ [http://www.stuff.co.nz/4453994a12.html "Elections no magic solution - Bainimarama"] , Michael Field, Stuff.co.nz, March 27, 2008]

In April 2008, Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry stated that it was necessary to complete and implement the People's Charter for Change and Progress before any elections are held. [ [http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=070408b9343c4143a7e8680c8ac2d5 "Stop pressuring Fiji for early elections-Chaudhry"] , FijiVillage, April 7, 2008] In May, Commodore Bainimarama stated that elections would not be held in March 2009 unless politicians agreed to the Charter. [ [http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=22050887f41fd0485f9d94a35ac552 "Agree With Charter Or No Elections"] , FijiVillage, May 22, 2008]

Bainimarama stated that Qarase's Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party will be authorised to take part in the election, but that, if elected, Qarase would have to abide by the People's Charter. He would not be authorised to introduce or re-introduce policies -such as the Reconciliation, Tolerance and Unity Bill- which Bainimarama perceives as racist. The commodore warned Qarase publicly that doing so would result in a new coup: "If you do it, I'll remove you." [ [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=90873 "On my terms: Bainimarama points way ahead"] , "Fiji Times", June 1, 2008]

July 2008: Postponing the election

On July 18, 2008, Bainimarama told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation that no election would take place in 2009. The commodore stated that desired electoral reforms could not be completed in time to hold the scheduled election [ [http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=12559 "No Elections in Fiji in 2009 says Bainimarama"] , Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, July 18, 2008] :

:"This electoral system that we had over the last 10 years is not good for us as it brings about racial division. So we want to get rid of that and we want to find an alternative way of coming up with elections [so] that election results will bring stability and harmony. Election must be done; it will be done and the military of all organization knows how important election is but we need to put changes in place before the elections." [ [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=95515 "Elections a must, only after electoral reform"] , "Fiji Times", July 19, 2008]

The Fiji Labour Party (FLP) supported the postponing of the election, referring to a report by the Fiji Human Rights Commission which had uncovered "deficiencies and anomalies at every stage of the election process" during the 2006 general election, amounting, in the view of the FHRC, to a serious bias in favour of Laisenia Qarase's SDL party. The FLP declared that it supported a delay in the next election because it wished to "ensure a return to free and fair elections, if we are not to be cheated at the polls again. Otherwise, the entire process becomes undemocratic, and a farce on the nation." [ [http://www.flp.org.fj/n080723.htm "Flawed democracy"] , Fiji Labour Party website, July 23, 2008]

At present, the date of the now postponed election remains unknown. Fiji’s Electoral Commission has stated that it may be held in late 2009, or in 2010. [ [http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41100 "Fiji Electoral Commission confirms poll delays"] , Radio New Zealand International, July 25, 2008]

References

ee also

* People's Charter for Change and Progress