NFP Rejects Fast-Tracking Constitutional Process
The National Federation Party outrightly rejects the Prime Minister’s attempt to fast-track the Constitution Amendment Bill by announcing that the Referendum on the Constitution will take place on 9th December without it firstly undergoing required parliamentary and constitutional process.
The PM’s announcement is inconsistent with s160(3) of the 2013 Constitution that is clear on Referendum process. This is not how to formulate a genuine, meaningful and fair Constitution for all our people.
It is clear that the Prime Minister is pre-empting the outcome even before the bipartisan special parliamentary committee unanimously agreed to by parliament last week has met and started scrutiny and consultation with the people on the draft constitution.
NFP agreed to vote for the Constitution Bill at its second reading last week because. we want the people to participate in the constitution making process. We should discuss it and agree on the changes it needs. But we do not agree to this fast-tracking.
Parliamentarians cannot do a deal on the Constitution behind closed doors. We must first go back to the people to ask them what they think. That will take time. All our citizens must understand what the draft Constitution says and what it means for them. We could never do this in 30 days. If this process must be finished after the next election, so be it.
The Prime Minister is now trying to rush the process by announcing a referendum on 9 December. This is not his decision. Under the law only the President can do that, and only after the Bill has been passed by Parliament. Parliament has not passed it.
And how does the Prime Minister expect the people to vote for a constitution they have barely seen? And if the politicians make further changes to it in Committee, when will the people have a chance to consider these changes?
This process is wrong. The whole point of a new constitution is to bring our people together. It is not to divide us further.
NFP, along with PA and SODELPA, rejected the 2013 Constitution because it was a rushed document, imposed by force by Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. These were leaders who did not care what our people thought. Now, in 2026, we cannot make the same mistakes.
The current draft Constitution must be considered in Committee. The Committee must go to the people first and listen to their views. Then it must come back and agree changes after it has listened.
This will all take longer than 30 days. Only then can the Constitution go back to a third reading and then a referendum. That should happen next year, after the elections.
The draft Constitution belongs to the people. It does not belong to the politicians. The politicians should not try to force it on us. The PM must reconsider his position and respect the people.
Professor Biman Prasad
Leader
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