The Electoral Commission (EC) of Fiji has officially announced that the number of parliamentary seats will remain at 55 for the upcoming General Election. This decision was made during a meeting held on December 11, 2025, following the Commission’s constitutional mandate under Section 54 of the 2013 Constitution.
According to Section 54(2), the EC is required to review the composition of Parliament at least one year before a general election. This review aims to maintain a consistent ratio of Members of Parliament to the population, akin to that of the first general election conducted under the Constitution.
EC Chairperson Justice Usaia Ratuvili shared that the review involved analyzing two official data sources: census-based population figures and information from the National Register of Voters. The EC found differing results from these two sets of data. The census statistics indicated a need for a reduction in the number of parliamentary seats, while the voter registration data suggested an increase.
After thorough consideration of both data sources and their implications, Justice Ratuvili stated that the EC decided to uphold the current number of seats. This choice respects both the letter and spirit of Section 54(2) of the Constitution. Justice Ratuvili emphasized, “The EC has resolved that there will be no alteration to the number of seats in Parliament, which will remain at 55 seats for the next General Election.”
This decision brings a sense of stability to Fiji’s parliamentary framework as the nation gears up for the forthcoming election, assuring voters that they will elect the same number of Members of Parliament as they did in the previous general election. The EC’s commitment to maintaining this consistency is a positive step in ensuring a familiar electoral process for all citizens.
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