Speaker of Parliament, Filimone Jitoko is yet to confirm what is the total number of MPs needed to get the Constitution Amendment Bill passed as two-thirds of 53 MPs is 35.3.
There is an understanding that 36 votes are needed to get the Bill passed while some say the number of votes needed is 35.
Although questions have been sent to the Speaker, he has not responded.
The opinion of the Supreme Court last year stated that two-thirds of all Members of Parliament must support an amending Bill at the second and third readings.
The Speaker ruled on October 2nd that it should be two-thirds of 53 as 2 MPs have passed away and it should be two-thirds of the MPs present in Parliament.
People's Alliance Party has 20 MPs, the Group of 11 led by Ioane Naivalurua has 11 MPs, SODELPA has 3 MPs while the National Federation Party has 4 MPs.
NFP and SODELPA will give directives to their MPs to vote against the Bill if the current timeline for the Bill is followed, and the final vote is taken in Parliament next week.
There are some indications that at least 2 MPs from SODELPA and 2 from NFP may not follow the party directive.
If the People's Alliance, the Naivalurua Group of 11 and 2 MPs each from SODELPA and NFP vote for the Constitution Amendment Bill, then there will be 35 MPs voting in support of the Bill.
This means the Speaker's decision on whether 35 or 36 votes are needed will be critical.
If any MP does not follow the directive, then they will lose their parliamentary seat after they defy the party directive.
The Opposition has 15 independents.
When asked during the Fijian Media Association Town Hall Forum in Nasinu last night whether the opposition will vote against the Bill next week and has a directive been given, Opposition MP, Premila Kumar says they are in a very interesting situation at the moment as the opposition is made up of independent members, so they have the privilege of voting independently.
Kumar confirms there is no group vote discussed at all.
Independent MP and founding member of People's First Party, Alvick Maharaj says they will meet on Sunday and take a stance on the Bill.
10 independent MPs are with People's First.
If the two thirds of support for the Bill is secured in parliament, the registered voters will vote on 9th December in a national referendum on whether the Constitution Amendment Bill should be passed.
Stay with us for updates.
