"One cannot be president of a political party one day and the next day become President of the nation. It makes a total mockery of the Constitution. I am surprised that the Opposition made the same mistake. Ro Teimumu Kepa is a sitting Member of Parliament of the opposition Sodelpa party. Her nomination should not have been entertained on the floor of the House. What is worse, the Speaker should have known better. But he allowed this comedy of errors to go through."
FLP leader Mahendra Pal Chaudhry
Fijileaks: FLP should challenge appointment in Fiji's High Court
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What a comedy of errors!
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says neither of the two candidates nominated for the Office of President in Parliament this morning, qualified for the position.
Both the nominees are disqualified within the spirit and intent of the Constitution. The Office of the President is supposed to be apolitical, divorced from any political party affiliation.
Section 83(1) (c) of the 2013 Constitution disqualifies “anyone who is a member, or holder of any office in any political party” from being a candidate for the office of the President.
"The Turaga Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is known to be the president of the Fiji First Party as per the information last published by the Registrar of Political Parties in December 2020.
When did he vacate that office? We have not seen any notice of his resignation from the post or as a member of Fiji First. Surely if the president of a ruling political party resigns, it should be a matter of public information.
Our inquiries of some Fiji First MPs disclosed that even they were unaware of Ratu Wiliame having vacated the party president’s post.
“Fiji First is run like a private company with two directors making all the decisions,” said one of them.
“In any case, one cannot be president of a political party one day and the next day become President of the nation. It makes a total mockery of the Constitution,” said Mr Chaudhry.
"I am surprised that the Opposition made the same mistake. Ro Teimumu Kepa is a sitting Member of Parliament of the opposition Sodelpa party. Her nomination should not have been entertained on the floor of the House.
"What is worse, the Speaker should have known better. But he allowed this comedy of errors to go through,” said Mr Chaudhry.
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says neither of the two candidates nominated for the Office of President in Parliament this morning, qualified for the position.
Both the nominees are disqualified within the spirit and intent of the Constitution. The Office of the President is supposed to be apolitical, divorced from any political party affiliation.
Section 83(1) (c) of the 2013 Constitution disqualifies “anyone who is a member, or holder of any office in any political party” from being a candidate for the office of the President.
"The Turaga Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is known to be the president of the Fiji First Party as per the information last published by the Registrar of Political Parties in December 2020.
When did he vacate that office? We have not seen any notice of his resignation from the post or as a member of Fiji First. Surely if the president of a ruling political party resigns, it should be a matter of public information.
Our inquiries of some Fiji First MPs disclosed that even they were unaware of Ratu Wiliame having vacated the party president’s post.
“Fiji First is run like a private company with two directors making all the decisions,” said one of them.
“In any case, one cannot be president of a political party one day and the next day become President of the nation. It makes a total mockery of the Constitution,” said Mr Chaudhry.
"I am surprised that the Opposition made the same mistake. Ro Teimumu Kepa is a sitting Member of Parliament of the opposition Sodelpa party. Her nomination should not have been entertained on the floor of the House.
"What is worse, the Speaker should have known better. But he allowed this comedy of errors to go through,” said Mr Chaudhry.
