Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya on Friday warned Parliament that Fiji’s fragile democratic framework will be undermined if key state institutions are weakened or subjected to political influence, urging lawmakers to protect the independence of bodies that underpin the rule of law.
Speaking in the House, Koya pointed to Fiji’s constitutional history — “the fact that we have had four constitutions” — as evidence of how repeatedly tested the country’s democracy has been. “It tells us that democratic systems are fragile when institutions are weak, when leaders place politics above principles, and when the rule of law is compromised,” he said, stressing that a written constitution cannot on its own guarantee democratic governance.
Koya named a list of institutions he said must remain insulated from partisan interference: the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Fiji Police Force, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Electoral Commission and the Reserve Bank. “These institutions are not meant to serve governments of the day. They are meant to serve the constitution and the people of Fiji,” he told MPs.
A central plank of Koya’s remarks was the need for merit-based appointments to leadership positions in those bodies. “Appointments to these offices must always be based on merit,” he said, explaining merit meant selections should not depend on personal connections, place of origin, traditional ties or political allegiance. He warned that when appointments are perceived to be partisan or opaque, public confidence in institutions — and thus in democracy itself — begins to erode.
Koya’s intervention comes against a backdrop of recent political upheaval that has changed the composition of Parliament. The FijiFirst party was de-registered on July 1 after failing to amend its rules to comply with the Political Parties Act, and several former party figures have since declared independence in their parliamentary roles. Independent MP Jone Usamate has publicly affirmed he will remain independent even as he signals willingness to work with the government on particular issues. That shifting landscape has intensified scrutiny on how state institutions will be governed and staffed in the coming months.
The Opposition MP did not propose specific legislative remedies in his speech but framed his comments as a broader call to preserve institutional safeguards. He cautioned that politicisation, lack of transparency and appointment processes open to question would do long-term damage to democratic legitimacy. The government has not yet publicly responded to Koya’s remarks.
Koya’s plea for institutional autonomy echoes wider concerns among legal experts and civil society groups who have repeatedly argued that strong, independent institutions are the bedrock of democratic resilience. As political alignments continue to shift in the wake of last month’s developments, his warning underscores an immediate challenge for lawmakers and the executive: maintaining public trust by ensuring that the organs charged with upholding the constitution remain impartial and accountable.
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