Nomination day for elections today

Issue No: 973; 26 July 2001

 
The nominations for candidates for the snap national election is today 25 August.

The elections were called by the Qarase regime after significant local and international pressure on the unelected regime to return the country to democracy. The Qarase regime, which is backed by powerful local business and chiefly interests, which backed the May 2000 terrorist uprising, attempted to impose a new constitution ensuring the Qarase group perpetual power. Qarase received support from the military to stay in power and to change the constitution. Qarase formed a Constitution Review Committee to review the Constitution. The Committee was adjudged without lawful authority by the High Court of Fiji. The regime disbanded the committee and reappointed it within weeks. Again the High Court declared the committee illegal.

Now the election will be held under the provisions of the 1997 Constitution.

The elections see a record 23 political parties registering to contest for the 71 seats of the Lower House. Over 400 candidates are expected to file their nominations today.

 

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
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Last update: August 27, 2001