Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Constitution submission in Fiji calls for MPs to choose President, smaller Parliament

Posted at 05:22 on 24 September, 2012 UTC

The President of Fiji should be appointed by Parliament.

That is the call the National Advisory Council to the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress has made in its submission to the Constitution Commission.

The Fiji Times reports that the council is also proposing that the President should only be appointed for a five year term which could be extended for one further term.

The chair of the Council, Josefa Seruilagilagi, says the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition should nominate two names each to be put to parliament where MPs should vote as individuals through secret ballots.

The submission also says the President need to have Fiji citizenship and have had a distinguished career in the public service.

The Council also calls for a smaller Parliament, cutting the number of MPs from 71 to 54.

It says Fiji is a small country and costs have to be considered.

And it says MPs must be Fiji citizens and those with dual citizenship need to renounce their non-Fijian link before being sworn in.