This question is posted on behalf of Tova Wang, member of the Practitioners' Network.

The Fijian government is about to issue a decree on party registration that provides only 28 days to fulfill a number of requirements, including gathering 5000 members in various numbers from each region of the country. It also bans anyone who is an officer in a union from leading a party. More information can be found here:

I would very much appreciate any comments on what would seem to be some unusual demands.

In many countries of the world, an unregistered party is not allowed to nominate candidates in the elections. In Bangladesh, political party registration was initiated in 2008, before the 9th parliamentary election. The legal framework made three options

1. A party which secured at least one seat with its electoral symbol in any parliamentary election held since the independence of Bangladesh 

2. The parties which secured five percent of total votes cast in the constituencies in which its candidates took part in any of the parliamentary election held since the independence of Bangladesh 

3. The parties which established a functional central office, by whatever name it may be called with a central committee (as a base for the organizing structure of the party in various administrative level in the country, effective) district offices in at least in one-third administrative districts, offices and at least one hundred Upazilas (sub-district) or Metropolitan Thana having a minimum number of two hundred voters as its members in each of them. In this case, the committee must have 200 members at all levels.

One month notice was given to the parties to apply for registration. Moreover, parties have to submit the bank account details along with sources of fund.

The process for us in Liberia, there is a period of some three to four weeks given call candidate nomination.  this process like many other EMB'S around give the requirements, deadlines, do's and don'ts to political and independent parties to come up with the means through which they intend to go through the Process, they must provide the following:

1. Have,  for political party offices in the Districts or constituencies they intend to feature a candidate, while for independent candidate you will also need to have office within that district and must solicit and publish for two weeks 500 signatures form registered voters with voter id number that will verify through the VR database.

2. provide prove of funding, Tax Clearance, and Citizenship/ domicile

3. Declare your assets   

4. go through for data collection where an on the spot digital photo is taken for the Ballot   

5. pay into government revenue the fees charged base on areas of interest    

Thanks for these replies.  Is it usual to have the 28 day deadline nearly two years before the election?  And have you heard of a trade union official being banned from leading a party?  Thanks again.

Actually trade union officials are not even allowed to be among the initial 5000 members of the party

Such rules make up no part of the political party registration process in Canada at either the federal, provincial or territorial levels and it would indeed be considered highly unusual ans suspect if similar rules were to be introduced.  I presume we can agree on the benefits to registration in the first place, but I suspect these unusual requirements are being put in place to restrict the formation of new parties and possibly to deny registration to some existing parties who will not be able to meet the requirements for registration.  

The regional representation is an odd requirement for a national party - are not all citizens of Fiji equal under the law.  What does it matter where they come from?  The ban on union participation in registered political parties appears to be highly undemocratic.  In the past we had a restriction on voting applied to the Chief Electoral Officer, judges and returning officers, but these restrictions have been lifted in most places.  These restrictions were in place because of the role these individuals played in administering elections, or potentially deciding on the outcome of an election if the matter was being dealt with through the courts, and the need to be and appear to be impartial.  Fiji seems to have established quite a list of those individuals it does not want to be involved at the party level.  The requirement for the party to demonstrate it has the support of a certain number of electors is not that unusual.  The support can usually be demonstrated through party membership or by having electors sign a petition supporting a party's registration.  However, depending on the cost of membership, this requirement can also be seen as a restrictive measure designed to deter some parties from registration.  The 28 day time period also seems quite restrictive and quite possible designed to prevent some of the smaller parties from gaining registration.  I don't know how long it would take to complete all the necessary paperwork and obtain original signatures and membership dues for 5,000 party members in various regions of Fiji, but I can imagine it would take considerable orgaizational and logistical effort.

Mr. Gibson,

This is VERY helpful.  Thank you so much.