Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Signature requirement (specify requirement) b . Deposit requirement (specify amount) f . Other
Comments: 26.—(1) Only political parties registered in accordance with the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree 2013 can nominate party candidates for an election, and must do so in accordance with this section.
(2) The total number of candidates which a political party may nominate for any general election must not be more than the total number of seats in Parliament, and the total number of candidates which a political party may nominate for any by-election must not be more than the total number of vacant seats in Parliament for which the by-election is being held.
(4) A party list must be in writing and signed by the leader and the secretary of the political party.
27.—(1) A nomination of a party candidate by a political party is not valid unless it is accompanied by a deposit of $1,000 in legal tender or a banker’s cheque for each party candidate on the party list of the political party, provided however that a political party may submit one or more banker’s cheques containing the amount of deposit payable by one or more party candidates nominated by the party.
--below are requirements for parties to register with the government--
An association of persons or an organisation applying to be registered as a political party shall apply to the Registrar for registration. An application for registration of a proposed political party shall be in writing and be signed by at least 5 applicants, all of whom must be members of the proposed political party. An application for registration shall also be accompanied by a fee of $5005.00 and a schedule setting out the names, addresses, signatures and voter identification card numbers of at least 5,000 members of the proposed political party from all the four Divisions with a minimum number of 2,000 members from the Central Division, 1,750 members from the Western Division, 1,000 members from the Northern Division, and 250 members from the Eastern Division.
Source: Electoral Decree No. 11 of 2014, art. 26-27 https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-electoral-decree-no.-11-of-2014/at_download/file (2014).
Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree No. 4 of 2013, art. 6: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-political-parties-registration-conduct/view (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Citizenship d . Residence f . Registration j . Other
Comments: Candidates for election to Parliament must be citizens of Fiji, and not hold citizenship of any other country, be registered on the Register of Voters, be ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least 2 years immediately before being nominated. Candidates must not be undischarged bankrupts or members of the Electoral Commission at any time during the 4 years immediately before being nominated, not be subject to a sentence of imprisonment when nominated, have not, at any time during the 8 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, and have not been found guilty of any offence under a law relating to elections, registration of political parties or registration of voters.
Source: Constitution, sec. 56 (2): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Electoral Decree No. 11 of 2014, sec. 23 (4): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-electoral-decree-no.-11-of-2014/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
c . In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments: A candidate for election to Parliament must be either nominated by a registered political party or nominated as an independent candidate.
A person wishing to stand as an independent candidate in an election must be duly nominated in writing on a nomination paper in the form approved by the Electoral Commission.
(82) 1. A person shall not be qualified to be nominated for the office of the President unless he or she-
c.is not a member of, or holds any office in, any political party;
Source: Constitution, art. 56 (1), art. 82 (1-c): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-constitution-2013/at_download/file (2014).
Electoral Decree No. 11 of 2014, art. 25: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-electoral-decree-no.-11-of-2014/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
a . No
Comments: The sources of funds for a political party shall only be from membership fees, voluntary contributions, donations, bequests and grants from a lawful source, not being from a foreign government, inter-governmental or non-governmental organisation, and the proceeds of any investment, project or undertaking in which the political party has an interest.
Source: Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree No. 4 of 2013, sec. 21 (1): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-political-parties-registration-conduct/view (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
g . Not applicable
Comments: No public funding is provided to political parties or candidates.
Art 113.—(1) It shall be unlawful to use State authority, including law and tax enforcement authorities, to pressure or intimidate political opposition.
Source: Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree No. 4 of 2013, sec. 21 (1): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-political-parties-registration-conduct/view (2014).
Electoral Decree No. 11 of 2014, art. 113(1)
: https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-electoral-decree-no.-11-of-2014/at_download/file (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
b . No
Comments: art. 21(1):The law specifies that the sources of funds for a political party shall only be from membership fees, voluntary contributions, donations, bequests and grants from a lawful source, not being from a foreign government, inter-governmental or non-governmental organisation, and the proceeds of any investment, project or undertaking in which the political party has an interest.
Art. 22(8) It shall be unlawful for any company, body corporate or any other entity to make any political donation or any contribution to— (a) a political party; (b) any office holder of a political party; (c) any candidate for election to Parliament (including an independent candidate); or (d) any agent, campaigner or servant of a political party or candidate for election to Parliament (including an independent candidate).
Source: Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree No. 4 of 2013, art. 21 (1), art. 22(8-9): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/pacific/FJ/fiji-political-parties-registration-conduct/view (2014).
Verified: 2018/04/20
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