Suva, Fiji – Earlier this year, the Cabinet tabled a Bill to amend certain provisions in Chapter 11 of the 2013 Constitution. However, the proposal was ultimately defeated after a heated debate in the Parliament, with the Coalition Government falling short of required votes.
The Amendment Proposal?
The Coalition Government wanted to amend relevant provisions of Chapter 11 of the 2013 Constitution, noting that the review of the constitutional framework is “necessary” as it will reflect the evolving aspirations of the people.
The Bill was to change the requirement for the 75 percent of the Members of Parliament needed to amend the Constitution and to remove the requirement of a referendum and support of 75 percent of the registered voters under Section 160.
Why did the Government want to amend Chapter 11 of the Constitution?
The Coalition Government argued that there are relevant frameworks that needed to be reviewed. Chapter 11 is designed to ensure that any changes to the Constitution are carefully considered and supported by both Parliament and the people.
Chapter 11 covers the “Rules for Changing the Constitution”. It states that there is a set procedure that must be followed, and no changes can be made outside of this process. This ensures that any changes are well thought out and agreed upon by the people and the government.
The bill to change the constitution looks at removing 75 percent votes from Members of Parliament, including removing a referendum from 75% of registered voters in Fiji to vote on whether they agree with the proposed changes.
The Parliamentary Vote
In Parliament, the Bill required the support of at least 75% of MPs (or 41 votes) to pass. The debate over the Bill lasted into midnight, with intense discussions on the proposed amendments. The final vote saw 40 MPs in favor, 14 against, and 1 MP not voting.
Since the Coalition Government needed 41 votes to pass the Bill, it was defeated by just one vote. Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko issued the final ruling, not in favor of the Bill.