The Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa has now confirmed that the SODELPA Parliamentary Caucus has been having consultations and will be in parliament with their candidate for the country’s President today.
However Ro Teimumu says the opposition expresses its gross disappointment and deep concern on fast tracking of the process to appoint the next President of Fiji when Fiji has time until October of this year to do that.
Ro Teimumu says the opposition sees no warranted reason to rush the process and strongly believe there needs to be consensus building on the matter given the President is the head of the state symbolizing the unity of the nation and also the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Leader of Opposition further says that the opposition is also of the view that following the declaration made by the Fiji Court of Appeal in April, 2009 that the 1997 Constitution, is still the supreme law of Fiji and the Great Council of Chiefs must have the right to choose the Head of State.
Ro Teimumu says there should have been wider consultation and more time allowed before taking such an important and far reaching decision.
According to the constitution, the President holds office for three years, and is eligible for reappointment for one further term of three years, but is not eligible for reappointment after that.
President Konrote is eligible for another term and all indications are that Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will nominate Konrote’s name again for reappointment for his last term as President.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
According to the country’s constitution, the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition each submit a presidential candidate to the Speaker of Parliament, who then announces the nominees to MPs before parliament decides on the country's next president with a majority vote.
In the presidential election held in parliament on October 12th 2015, Konrote, nominated by the FijiFirst, got 31 votes, while the opposition's candidate, Ratu Epeli Ganilau received 14 votes.
Ratu Epeli Ganilau
It is not known whether the National Federation Party MPs will attend parliament tomorrow.
Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says they cannot guarantee whether they will be in parliament for the election of the President.
Biman Prasad
He says they only received the notice of the parliament sitting yesterday. When asked earlier today, Prasad said that he will let us know later.
Parliament will sit at 9.30am today.
