Parties that register by the February 14th deadline under the Political Parties Decree will be invited to be part of the Constituent Assembly.
This has been confirmed as Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama waits for the deadline to be over before making a formal announcement.
This is expected to rule the people from the old Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua and the disbanded United People’s Party out.
Executives from these former parties can only be considered if they meet the criteria and register under a new party by the deadline.
The clock is ticking for the proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party (the new SDL), the Fiji Labour Party and the National Federation Party as they are gathering the 5,005 signatures.
Fijivillage has received confirmation that Commodore Bainimarama is sending invitations to individuals and organizations to be members of the assembly over the course of the next few weeks.
The last of the invitations will go out after the February 14th deadline.
The Constituent Assembly is scheduled to have its first sitting in February.
The assembly has the duty to review and approve the draft constitution.
Commodore Bainimarama said the decree requires that the Assembly be diverse, and in addition to political parties, be composed of members who represent faith based organizations, trade unions, employers, the business community, government, rural and agricultural communities, the RFMF, national organizations, women, youth, people with disability, pensioners, and other Fijian-registered civil society groups, amongst others.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
