Minister for Finance, Esrom Immanuel says the government is prepared and has budgeted for the local government elections and general elections, one referendum, and several other upcoming events, with $14 million allocated for the municipal elections.
Immanuel has highlighted this to fijivillage News after being questioned in Suva today.
When questioned, he says the government coffers are well at the moment.
Immanuel also says the government’s priorities have been carefully considered in the allocation of funds.
He says the Government has set aside $5 million for preparatory work, which will cover both the municipal council and general elections.
He further states that the 2026/2027 National Budget will be delivered on June 26th.
Immanuel also confirms that there will be no mini-budget unless an emergency situation arises.
Immanuel on Budget 19th May
He also says the $8 living wage rate proposed is possible but there is a process to reach that.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka had said yesterday that the government will reconsider whether the local government elections will go ahead as scheduled in September, and hinting that the elections may have to be put on hold.
The FEO has started the registration process for the local government elections, and the Ministry had confirmed that the elections would be held on one of the Saturdays this September.
Rabuka has said that based on the National Fuel Response Plan and the situation at hand, they will also consider whether they will have a Mini Budget from August to December this year and a full National Budget from January to December next year.
He says they need to look at the work that needs to be done ahead of the general elections as well.
Rabuka says they will have to look at the constitutional review, the processes in parliament, the referendum, and any changes to the electoral laws.
The Prime Minister says all these have to be incorporated, and they will decide what has to be done before the general elections and what will be done after the general elections.
The general elections can be held any time between August this year to February next year.
Rabuka says they have to be prepared to go, and whether they have to be able to go or not, as dictated to them by other things like the budget and all those things, they have to consider those issues as they come.
The Constitution Review Commission is expected to hand the Draft Constitution Amendment Bill to the President with it's report in August.
