Open constituencies (Fiji)
Encyclopedia
Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fiji
an electoral system
. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies
, the 25 members of the House of Representatives
who represent open constituencies are elected by universal suffrage
and are open to members of any ethnic group
.
Universal suffrage with a common voters' roll was first proposed by the Indo-Fijian-dominated National Federation Party (NFP) in the early 1960s, but was opposed by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian
community, who were fearful that a common roll would favour Indo-Fijians, who then comprised a majority of the population. The proposal came up again intermittently throughout the 1970s, but nothing came of it.
Open constituencies came into being when the present constitution
was adopted in 1997-1998. The Constitutional Commission chaired by former New Zealand
Governor General of New Zealand Sir Paul Reeves
had recommended a total of 45 open and 25 communal constituencies, but the then-ruling Fijian Political Party of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
and the opposition NFP saw the communal constituencies allocated to indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians respectively as their power base and insisted on virtually reversing the ratio. The final constitutional draft established 46 communal constituencies and 25 open constituencies, which are required to be substantially equal in population.
Most political competition in Fiji takes place in the open constituencies. As the fundamental faultline in Fijian politics
remains ethnic rather than ideological, the racially allocated communal constituencies generally follow predictable voting patterns. The ethnically diverse open constituencies, particularly in urban areas, are much more competitive.
The existence and number of the open constituencies remains a bone of contention in Fijian politics. Many Fijian ethno-nationalists favour their abolition, whereas many Indo-Fijian politicians like former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
, as well as parties claiming to be multiracial, argue that their number should be increased, or even that all parliamentary seats should be open.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an electoral system
Electoral system of Fiji
- Historical overview :Fiji's electoral system is the result of complex negotiations, compromises, and experiments conducted over the years leading up to and following independence from British colonial rule in 1970. A number of devices have been tried at various times to accommodate the reality...
. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies
Communal constituencies (Fiji)
Communal constituencies have been the most durable feature of the Fijian electoral system. In communal constituencies, electors enrolled as ethnic Fijians, Indo-Fijians, Rotuman Islanders, or General Electors vote for a candidate of their own respective ethnic groups, in constituencies that have...
, the 25 members of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
who represent open constituencies are elected by universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and are open to members of any ethnic group
Demographics of Fiji
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Fiji, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
.
Universal suffrage with a common voters' roll was first proposed by the Indo-Fijian-dominated National Federation Party (NFP) in the early 1960s, but was opposed by most leaders of the indigenous Fijian
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
community, who were fearful that a common roll would favour Indo-Fijians, who then comprised a majority of the population. The proposal came up again intermittently throughout the 1970s, but nothing came of it.
Open constituencies came into being when the present constitution
Constitution of Fiji
The 1997 Constitution of Fiji was the supreme law of Fiji from its adoption in 1997 until 2009 when President Josefa Iloilo purported to abrogate it. It was also suspended for a period following the 2000 coup d'état led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama....
was adopted in 1997-1998. The Constitutional Commission chaired by former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Governor General of New Zealand Sir Paul Reeves
Paul Reeves
Sir Paul Alfred Reeves, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, CF, QSO was Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand from 1980 to 1985 and the 15th Governor-General of New Zealand from 22 November 1985 to 20 November 1990...
had recommended a total of 45 open and 25 communal constituencies, but the then-ruling Fijian Political Party of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka
Sitiveni Rabuka
Major-General Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, OBE, MSD, OStJ, is best known as the instigator of two military coups that shook Fiji in 1987. He was later democratically elected the third Prime Minister, serving from 1992 to 1999...
and the opposition NFP saw the communal constituencies allocated to indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians respectively as their power base and insisted on virtually reversing the ratio. The final constitutional draft established 46 communal constituencies and 25 open constituencies, which are required to be substantially equal in population.
Most political competition in Fiji takes place in the open constituencies. As the fundamental faultline in Fijian politics
Politics of Fiji
Politics of Fiji takes place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic. Fiji has a multi-party system with the Prime Minister of Fiji as head of government. The executive power is exercised by the government...
remains ethnic rather than ideological, the racially allocated communal constituencies generally follow predictable voting patterns. The ethnically diverse open constituencies, particularly in urban areas, are much more competitive.
The existence and number of the open constituencies remains a bone of contention in Fijian politics. Many Fijian ethno-nationalists favour their abolition, whereas many Indo-Fijian politicians like former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, as well as parties claiming to be multiracial, argue that their number should be increased, or even that all parliamentary seats should be open.