Mosese Bulitavu will be an independent Opposition parliamentarian supporting Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Bulitavu mentioned that 10 other Opposition MPs would also follow suit, though he did not specify who they are.
He highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the rules of joining other political parties. “If I join a political party I did not contest under its banner in the last elections, what are the circumstances?” he asked. Bulitavu questioned whether showing interest in moving to the People’s Alliance or Labour would mean that those with higher votes within those parties would take his seat.
These questions arise after the party he represented in the 2022 General Election, FijiFirst, was deregistered by the Supervisor of Elections for failing to amend its constitution. “The Political Parties Act talks about deregistration wherein a particular Member of Parliament can either join a political party or remain an independent Member of Parliament,” he said. However, he pointed out that the 2013 Constitution does not provide clear provisions for such a situation. “Those that drew up the Constitution did not foresee this situation or dream that there would come a time that some would become independent Members of Parliament.”
Bulitavu mentioned that they would need to notify the Speaker of Parliament about whether they would join a political party.