30 Aug 2018

Fiji MPs called for special sitting to appoint president

10:30 am on 30 August 2018

Parliamentarians in Fiji have been asked to gather for a special sitting tomorrow to appoint the country's president.

Fiji President Jioji Konrote

Fiji President Jioji Konrote Photo: supplied

The current president Jioji Konrote was appointed on October the 12th in 2015 and he is eligible for just one more three year term.

The Fiji Times reports the parliament secretariat gave MPs less than 48 hours notice of the sitting which has drawn the ire of some in the opposition.

The Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said the flying minute came at short notice.

She told the newspaper she would put before the caucus whether to nominate a new president or support extending the current president's term.

The National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad told the Fiji Times the party could not guarantee its participation in tomorrow's special sitting because certain parliamentary powers had been usurped.

He said under the parliament's Standing Orders, the Business Committee determined the business of parliament irrespective of the nature of the sitting.

Professor Prasad said the committee should have been given the chance to deliberate.

Under the constitution the prime minister and the leader of the opposition can each nominate a candidate for a vote by the parliament.