Fijians are being reassured by the country’s prime minister and his senior government ministers that they will head to the polls before the 6 February 2027 deadline.
Sitiveni Rabuka, who is currently on a nationwide public consultation tour leading a special parliamentary committee on a constitutional reform process, is repeatedly assuring voters that the general election will proceed as planned.
In interviews with local media, the prime minister confirmed that the next election will be held under the existing electoral laws by the deadline.
Rabuka has not announced an election date yet, but previously told RNZ Pacific that he would do so after the constitutional reform process is complete, including a potential national referendum in December 2026.
Fijian PM Sitiveni Rabuka
RNZ Pacific / Fiji Parliament
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) has told RNZ Pacific that election campaigning is still ongoing, after the prime minister announced earlier this month that he had written to the Electoral Commission to suspend campaigning.
According to the FEO, more than 723,000 eligible voters have registered to cast their ballots as of 30 June.
Rabuka’s coalition government came into power in December 2022. Under Fiji’s 2013 Constitution, his administration’s term ends on 24 December 2026.
One of the minor partners in Rabuka’s coalition, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), warned that the ongoing constitutional amendment process “must not create unnecessary uncertainty about the electoral timetable or distract from the preparations required for the next general election”.
“The people of Fiji deserve timely, accurate information and confidence that the democratic process will proceed lawfully,” Sodelpa leader and Rabuka’s Education Minister Aseri Radrodro said in a statement.
More than 723,000 eligible voters have registered to cast their ballots as of 30 June, according to the Fijian Elections Office.
RNZ / Philippa Tolley
Meanwhile, the Labour Party, which holds no seats in parliament, has accused the government of planning to “abort” the polls.
The party said that Rabuka’s government is “so unpopular” and “is likely to” be voted out.
Labour leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has called on the government to explain certain clauses in the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 which concern the government’s term in office without holding a general election.
However, Manoa Kamikamica – one of the two deputy prime ministers – told parliament two weeks ago that elections will be held before February 2027.
“Some naysayers would say that [the government] would try to delay the elections,” Kamikamica said.
“I’d like to say to Fiji, we are sticking within the rule of law. We are not delaying the elections.”
