The FijiFirst party has been officially deregistered, marking the end of its era, as confirmed by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa. This decision allows those affected to appeal to the Electoral Commission of Fiji within 14 days. Failing any successful appeal, the Registrar will initiate the wind-up process as mandated by the Political Parties Act.
The decision details were communicated to all 26 FijiFirst Members of Parliament and the Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. The FijiFirst party had been instructed on May 30, 2024, to make necessary amendments to its constitution, aligning it with the requirements under Schedule 2 of the Act. However, the changes were not made by the given deadline, which was June 28, 2024, leading to the deregistration.
It’s worth noting that the party’s constitution did not allow members to make amendments without the founding members’ consent. However, all founding members resigned from the party last month. Efforts to reach the Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu, for comments were unsuccessful.