SUVA (Pacnews) — The European Union has told Fiji’s interim government delegation in Brussels that it prefers to see general elections in the Pacific nation held within 18 to 24 months.
Parmesh Chand, the permanent secretary of the office of interim Prime Minister and military chief Frank Bainimarama, said the delegation led by interim Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Nailatikau have prepared for full consultations with the EU.
“The delegation told us that it was very useful because the EU’s preference is to have elections within 18-24 months,” said Chand.
“With this information, our delegation can better justify why we put 36 months on our timetable especially when we have milestones to achieve.”
Chand said some of these milestones are conducting of a national census and the reconfiguration of the electoral boundaries.
He said they have also been told that the census report will be ready at the end of next year.
“If it’s out by then, the Electoral Boundaries Commission will convene based on the census report. They would take another six to nine months, if not a year,” said Chand.
“This takes us well into 2009, which is more or less the 36 months we are saying.” he said.
He said the interim government’s timetable is to hold elections in 2010.
Chand said there are also the issues of voter registration, where to vote, how to vote and preparing the electoral rolls and finalizing the electoral roll. He said this will take another six months.
“All in all, based on these milestones it is justified that we’ll need a good 36 months,” Chand said.
He said the delegation will also update the EU on other issues besides the interim government’s roadmap to democracy such as freedom of movement, upholding the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the human rights violations and how people have the avenues for redress.