Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube has welcomed the Supreme Court’s advisory on Fiji’s 2013 Constitution as a step forward, while stressing it does not meet the full aim his party had hoped for. Narube said the court’s pathway—amendments moving through two-thirds of Parliament and a simple majority in a referendum—represents progress because it eases the hurdles to constitutional change and brings the people’s will more clearly into the process. Still, he cautioned that the court could have gone further, noting that such strides may come “another day.”
Narube also said Unity Fiji will study the full judgment with its legal team before deciding its next steps. While the party had planned to challenge the 2013 Constitution in court, it will assess the judgment carefully to determine whether to pursue further legal avenues, in line with its pledge from the 2022 election campaign to contest the document.
The Unity Fiji chief acknowledged that Parliament now holds a central role in any amendments but emphasized the party’s push for what it sees as a truly constitutional Constitution that reflects the will of Fiji’s diverse people. The takeaway for reform advocates is that the court’s ruling reframes the path to change in a more workable, participatory way, balancing stability with public input.
Context from related discussions suggests broad interest in a national conversation on constitutional reform, with calls for wide consultations and inclusive processes beyond the political punditry. Analysts and opposition groups have argued for mechanisms that ensure public buy-in, such as national dialogues or a formal constitutional review commission, to guide any amendments in a way that respects Fiji’s multiracial society. The government is expected to study the advisory through Cabinet channels and chart a careful, law-abiding course forward to avoid destabilizing the country.
Key implications include: a shift away from the previously onerous 75% threshold toward a two-step process that keeps Parliament at the forefront while requiring popular consent through a referendum; recognition that the 1997 Constitution is no longer applicable; and potential moves toward nationwide dialogue and formal public consultation to ensure reforms have broad legitimacy. Public participation and transparency are likely to be central as Fiji navigates its constitutional future, with civil society and political actors watching closely how the process unfolds.
Positive note and outlook: supporters see the advisory as a constructive pivot that can legitimize constitutional reform by tying changes to both legislative support and citizen involvement, all while preserving checks and balances. If implemented with robust public engagement, the pathway could help produce a more durable constitution that better reflects the will of Fiji’s people and strengthens governance.
Summary: The Supreme Court’s advisory confirms the 2013 Constitution as the working framework and replaces the old 75% double entrenchment with a two-step process—parliamentary two-thirds support for readings followed by a simple referendum majority to bind changes. The 1997 Constitution is no longer applicable. Cabinet and Parliament are expected to chart a careful, inclusive course, potentially including nationwide dialogue or the establishment of a constitutional review mechanism to guide reform.
Commentary: This development is seen by reform advocates as a hopeful move toward a more participatory and accountable constitutional process. The coming period will reveal how the government translates the advisory into concrete steps, how broad public input is organized, and how unity across Fiji’s communities is fostered through transparent, lawful reform.
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