Jon Apted, a former supervisor of elections and constitutional lawyer, has expressed concerns that the current legal framework is inadequate for the Local Government elections in Fiji. Speaking during a panel discussion organized by Dialogue Fiji, Apted highlighted that these existing laws could hinder the electoral process.
He criticized last year’s amendment, which required candidates to be either representatives of registered political parties or to run as independents. Apted pointed out a significant disparity in how elections are contested in larger municipalities compared to smaller ones. He noted that while larger towns are often hotspots for political party competition, smaller municipalities frequently attract little interest from these parties.
Apted emphasized the challenges candidates face in gaining party nominations, mentioning that becoming a registered political party demands securing 5,000 signatures. He described this requirement as a considerable obstacle and added that the associated reporting obligations further complicate the process.
He raised concerns about the implications of having political parties as the sole pathway to Local Government candidacy, especially for individuals from smaller towns. He questioned how candidates, particularly women, could get noticed by major political parties when they lack a history or significant contributions to those parties. He cited specific examples of women in towns like Savusavu and Sigatoka as being at a disadvantage in attracting party attention.
Apted underscored the need for women to engage actively with political party leadership if they wish to run for candidacy, urging them to make their presence known early in the process. He concluded by stating that the legal framework is still uncertain and called for women, political parties, and NGOs to actively communicate with the Government, specifically the Minister for Elections, to influence the regulations governing the upcoming elections.