Chaudhry warns of "constitutional coup" – The Fiji Times

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Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has raised concerns that provisions in the proposed Constitution could allow Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s Government to extend its term in office without holding a general election.
Mr Chaudhry has challenged the Prime Minister to explain several transitional provisions under Chapter 16 of the proposed Constitution, questioning whether they could be used to prolong the life of the current Parliament.
“Prime Minister Rabuka must explain to the nation the intent of these clauses,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“Why have these been inserted unless it is to allow the current term of Parliament to be extended and the government to stay in office without going to the Polls?”
Mr Chaudhry pointed specifically to Clause 211(2), which provides for the new Constitution to come into force on March 31, 2028.
However, he said Clause 211(3) empowered the President, through a proclamation published in the Gazette, to bring the Constitution into force earlier.
He argued that an earlier commencement date could activate other transitional provisions allowing existing political officeholders to continue under the new constitutional framework.
Under Clause 219(3), titled Parliament continues, existing members of Parliament would become members of the House of Representatives upon commencement of the new Constitution.
Clause 221 similarly provides for the existing Prime Minister and Ministers to continue holding their respective positions under the new Constitution.
Mr Chaudhry also highlighted Clause 220, which provides for continuity in the Office of the President.
He questioned whether these provisions were intended to preserve the current administration beyond its existing electoral mandate.
The Labour leader also raised concerns over the proposed December 9 national referendum, questioning the authority under which the date had been announced.
He referred to the Prime Minister’s call for the Electoral Commission to suspend election campaign activities until after the referendum.
Mr Chaudhry accused the Government of using the constitutional reform process to potentially avoid facing voters, describing the ongoing public consultations as a “charade”.
He maintained that the Prime Minister owed the country an explanation of why the transitional provisions had been included and how they would affect the timing of the next general election.