The Constitution Amendment Bill proposes the retention of a 55 member Parliament however a system is proposed where 33 constituency members or such number as Parliament may by written law
Bill proposes retention of 55 member Parliament - 33 constituency members and 22 party list members5 year Parliament term proposed in Bill
By Vijay Narayan 30/09/2026
The Constitution Amendment Bill proposes the retention of a 55 member Parliament however a system is proposed where 33 constituency members or such number as Parliament may by written lawprescribe, which includes 5 maritime constituencies chosen directly by the registered voters of those constituencies in a first-past-the-post election; and 22 party list members or such number as Parliament may by written law prescribe, allocated to political parties in proportion to the total number of votes for the candidates of that party in the constituency seats.
Parliament or the House of Representatives is to be composed in a manner that reflects, as closely as practicable, the proportion of votes cast for political parties.
A political party is entitled to proportional representation if it secures not less than5 percent of the party vote.
Constituency seats won are deducted from each party’s proportional entitlement, with the balance filled from party lists.
The Party list seats must be allocated in accordance with a written law prescribing an appropriate mathematical rounding method, which rounds fractions to whole numbers to determine seat allocations.
Candidates unaffiliated with a political party may contest constituency seats, and if elected, serve as independent members without affecting proportional allocation.
A candidate of a party can stand for election in a constituency seat and be included in the party’s list for a party list seat.
Parliament may provide, by written law, for temporary special measures relating to the way in which party lists must be constituted, for example measures to ensure, as far as possible, equal numbers of male and female candidates; or measures to otherwise facilitate diverse representation on party lists.
The maritime constituencies are Rotuma, Yasawa, Kadavu, Lomaiviti and Lau.
A candidate for election to the House of Representatives must be either nominated by a registered political party or nominated as an independent candidate in accordance with the laws governing elections.
A person may be a candidate for election to the House of Representatives only if the person is a citizen of Fiji; is qualified to be registered as a voter and is registered on the Register ofVoters; is ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 2 years immediately before being nominated; is not an undischarged bankrupt; is not a member of the Electoral Commission and has not been a member of that Commission at any time during the 4 years immediately before being nominated; is not subject to a sentence of imprisonment when nominated; has not, at any time during the 8 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of an offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more; and has not, in the 5 years immediately before being nominated, been found guilty of any offence under a law relating to elections, registration of political parties or registration of voters.
The total number of candidates that a political party may nominate for any general election must not be more than the total number of seats in the House of Representatives, and the total number of candidates that a political party may nominate for any by-election must not be more than the total number of vacant seats in the House of Representatives for which the by-election is held.
If a seat in the House of Representatives becomes vacant, the vacancy must be filled in the case of a constituency seat, by a by-election; and in the case of a party list seat, by the next candidate on the party list; or if there is no next candidate on the party list, by a by-election.
The Bill also proposes the House of Representatives continues for 5 years from the date of its firstmeeting after a general election of the members of the House of Representatives, unlesssooner dissolved in accordance with the Constitution.
The Constitution Amendment Bill proposes the retention of a 55 member Parliament however a system is proposed where 33 constituency members or such number as Parliament may by written law
prescribe, which includes 5 maritime constituencies chosen directly by the registered voters of those constituencies in a first-past-the-post election; and 22 party list members or such number as Parliament may by written law prescribe, allocated to political parties in proportion to the total number of votes for the candidates of that party in the constituency seats.
Parliament or the House of Representatives is to be composed in a manner that reflects, as closely as practicable, the proportion of votes cast for political parties.
A political party is entitled to proportional representation if it secures not less than
5 percent of the party vote.
Constituency seats won are deducted from each party’s proportional entitlement, with the balance filled from party lists.
The Party list seats must be allocated in accordance with a written law prescribing an appropriate mathematical rounding method, which rounds fractions to whole numbers to determine seat allocations.
Candidates unaffiliated with a political party may contest constituency seats, and if elected, serve as independent members without affecting proportional allocation.
A candidate of a party can stand for election in a constituency seat and be included in the party’s list for a party list seat.
Parliament may provide, by written law, for temporary special measures relating to the way in which party lists must be constituted, for example measures to ensure, as far as possible, equal numbers of male and female candidates; or measures to otherwise facilitate diverse representation on party lists.
The maritime constituencies are Rotuma, Yasawa, Kadavu, Lomaiviti and Lau.
A candidate for election to the House of Representatives must be either nominated by a registered political party or nominated as an independent candidate in accordance with the laws governing elections.
A person may be a candidate for election to the House of Representatives only if the person is a citizen of Fiji; is qualified to be registered as a voter and is registered on the Register of
Voters; is ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 2 years immediately before being nominated; is not an undischarged bankrupt; is not a member of the Electoral Commission and has not been a member of that Commission at any time during the 4 years immediately before being nominated; is not subject to a sentence of imprisonment when nominated; has not, at any time during the 8 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of an offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more; and has not, in the 5 years immediately before being nominated, been found guilty of any offence under a law relating to elections, registration of political parties or registration of voters.
The total number of candidates that a political party may nominate for any general election must not be more than the total number of seats in the House of Representatives, and the total number of candidates that a political party may nominate for any by-election must not be more than the total number of vacant seats in the House of Representatives for which the by-election is held.
If a seat in the House of Representatives becomes vacant, the vacancy must be filled in the case of a constituency seat, by a by-election; and in the case of a party list seat, by the next candidate on the party list; or if there is no next candidate on the party list, by a by-election.
The Bill also proposes the House of Representatives continues for 5 years from the date of its firstmeeting after a general election of the members of the House of Representatives, unless
sooner dissolved in accordance with the Constitution.
Constitution Amendment Bill proposes Fijian to continue as common nameReligious freedom guaranteed, State and all persons holding public office must treat all religions equally
By Vijay Narayan 30/09/2026
The Constitution Amendment Bill tabled in parliament today proposes all citizens of Fiji are to continue to be known as Fijians, and Indigenous Fijians may be referred to as iTaukeinivanua o Viti.
The Bill tabled by parliament also says that the Republic of Fiji is a sovereign democratic State founded on the values of Christianity and family values; respect for human rights, freedom and the rule of law; an independent, impartial, competent and accessible system of justice; equality for all and care for the less fortunate based on the values in the Bill of Rights; human dignity, respect for the individual, personal integrity and responsibility, civic involvement and mutual support; good governance, including the limitation and separation of powers; transparency and accountability; common and equal citizenry and national unity; and a prudent, efficient and sustainable relationship with nature.
The Bill says although religion and the State are separate, the people of the Republic of Fiji acknowledge that worship and reverence for God are the source of good governance and leadership.
It also states that religious liberty is a founding principle of the State, religious belief is personal and that religious liberty means the State and all persons holding public office must treat all religions equally; the State and all persons holding public office must not dictate any religious belief; the State and all persons holding public office must not prefer or advance, by any means, any particular religion, religious denomination, religious belief, or religious practice over another, or over any non-religious belief; and no person may assert any religious belief as a legal reason to disregard this Constitution or any other written law.
Citizens of Fiji may also hold multiple citizenship, which means that upon accepting the citizenship of a foreign country, a person remains a citizen of Fiji unless he or she renounces that status; a former citizen of Fiji, who lost that citizenship upon acquiring foreign citizenship, may regain citizenship of Fiji, while retaining that foreign citizenship unless the laws of that foreign country provide otherwise; and upon becoming a citizen of Fiji, a foreign person may retain his or herexisting citizenship unless the laws of that foreign country provide otherwise.
The Constitution Amendment Bill also states that any attempt to establish a Government other than in compliance with this Constitution is unlawful, and anything done to further that attempt is invalid and of no force or effect; and no immunities can lawfully be granted under any law to any person.
The Bill also states that every person has the right to free early childhood education; free primary and secondary education; and free further education for persons who were unable to complete theirprimary and secondary education.
It also says conversational and contemporary iTaukei, Rotuman and Hindi languages mustbe taught in all primary schools.
The State may also direct any educational institution to teach subjects pertaining to health, civic education and issues of national interest, and any educational institution must comply with any such directions made by the State.
The Constitution Amendment Bill tabled in parliament today proposes all citizens of Fiji are to continue to be known as Fijians, and Indigenous Fijians may be referred to as iTaukeinivanua o Viti.
The Bill tabled by parliament also says that the Republic of Fiji is a sovereign democratic State founded on the values of Christianity and family values; respect for human rights, freedom and the rule of law; an independent, impartial, competent and accessible system of justice; equality for all and care for the less fortunate based on the values in the Bill of Rights; human dignity, respect for the individual, personal integrity and responsibility, civic involvement and mutual support; good governance, including the limitation and separation of powers; transparency and accountability; common and equal citizenry and national unity; and a prudent, efficient and sustainable relationship with nature.
The Bill says although religion and the State are separate, the people of the Republic of Fiji acknowledge that worship and reverence for God are the source of good governance and leadership.
It also states that religious liberty is a founding principle of the State, religious belief is personal and that religious liberty means the State and all persons holding public office must treat all religions equally; the State and all persons holding public office must not dictate any religious belief; the State and all persons holding public office must not prefer or advance, by any means, any particular religion, religious denomination, religious belief, or religious practice over another, or over any non-religious belief; and no person may assert any religious belief as a legal reason to disregard this Constitution or any other written law.
Citizens of Fiji may also hold multiple citizenship, which means that upon accepting the citizenship of a foreign country, a person remains a citizen of Fiji unless he or she renounces that status; a former citizen of Fiji, who lost that citizenship upon acquiring foreign citizenship, may regain citizenship of Fiji, while retaining that foreign citizenship unless the laws of that foreign country provide otherwise; and upon becoming a citizen of Fiji, a foreign person may retain his or her
existing citizenship unless the laws of that foreign country provide otherwise.
The Constitution Amendment Bill also states that any attempt to establish a Government other than in compliance with this Constitution is unlawful, and anything done to further that attempt is invalid and of no force or effect; and no immunities can lawfully be granted under any law to any person.
The Bill also states that every person has the right to free early childhood education; free primary and secondary education; and free further education for persons who were unable to complete their
primary and secondary education.
It also says conversational and contemporary iTaukei, Rotuman and Hindi languages must
be taught in all primary schools.
The State may also direct any educational institution to teach subjects pertaining to health, civic education and issues of national interest, and any educational institution must comply with any such directions made by the State.
