Former elections supervisor and constitutional lawyer Jon Apted has expressed concerns regarding the suitability of current laws for Local Government elections. During a panel discussion held by Dialogue Fiji on Tuesday, he stated that the existing legislation may hinder the electoral process.
Apted criticized last year’s amendment to the law, which stipulates that candidates can either be representatives of a registered political party or stand as independents. He noted a significant historical disparity in election contests between large municipalities and smaller towns, where political parties tend to focus their efforts on bigger cities, often overlooking smaller municipalities.
He pointed out that to be nominated by a registered political party, candidates need to collect 5,000 signatures, creating a substantial obstacle. He also highlighted the challenges faced by individuals from smaller towns in gaining recognition from political parties, particularly women who lack a profile within those parties.
Apted emphasized the necessity for women candidates to proactively engage with party leaders and make their intentions known if they wish to participate in the elections. He called for increased advocacy from women, political parties, and NGOs to urge the Government and the Minister for Elections to consider their input in the regulations governing the upcoming elections.
Apted concluded by stressing the need for efforts to bridge the gaps within Local Government municipalities to ensure that women’s voices are heard and represented.