The National Referendum will be held on 9th December this year if the vote in Parliament on 2nd November gets 66 percent support of the Members of Parliament.
Speaking in a press conference in Nadi, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the administration of the referendum will be undertaken by the Supervisor of Elections under the direction of the Electoral Commission, in accordance with the law.
Rabuka says he has written to the Electoral Commission for all general election campaigning to be suspended until the referendum writ has been returned to the President.
He says the referendum result is expected to be announced by 14th December.
Rabuka says the referendum will ask a simple yes or no question on whether voters agree with the new Constitution approved by Parliament.
He says the exact question has not yet been formulated and will come after the third reading and the enactment of the Bill by Parliament.
While responding to a question by fijivillage News on why Cabinet prepared its own draft Constitution despite the Constitutional Review Commission having conducted consultations with a wide range of people and communities, Rabuka says commissions report to Cabinet, and the Constitutional Review Commission was commissioned by the President before its report was made available to the public.
Rabuka says a Cabinet Sub Committee went through the recommendations and made decisions on what should be put before Parliament.
Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga says the Government is following the process used in 1997, where recommendations were submitted to Government for key policy decisions to be made before a Bill is prepared.
He says the Cabinet Sub Committee will further look into the provisions in the coming days.
Rabuka stresses the general election remains bound by the constitutional deadline of 6th February 2027.
He says the timing will depend on advice from the Electoral Commission, the Supervisor of Elections and other electoral bodies on their preparedness for the general election.
Rabuka says the Government has a responsibility to facilitate the referendum, while the decision to participate rests with the people.
He says there is no contingency plan if the referendum does not go in the Government’s favour, as the result must reflect the will of the people.
Rabuka is encouraging Fijians to stay informed, participate in the consultation process, ask questions and listen respectfully to different views before making their decision.
He says Fijians could potentially go to the polls twice within a short period, with the National Referendum scheduled for 9th December this year and the general elections required before 6th February next year.
