22 Nov 2007

Backing for Fiji Parliament to be briefly recalled to legally return the country to democracy

4:07 pm on 22 November 2007

The Fiji Citizens Constitutional Forum, or CCF, welcomes the ousted prime minister's proposal to legally return the country to democracy.

Laisenia Qarase is suggesting that the last parliament be recalled a few months prior to the next election in March 2009 in order for his government to legally resign.

Mr Qarase proposes the president could then appoint a caretaker cabinet to look after the state until the election.

CCF's executive director, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, supports Mr Qarase's proposal, but adds there are some issues that need to be addressed.

"It's very important that the two leaders are beginning to have conversations. It is very good for the ousted prime minister to initiate that. But the interim prime minister had also asked the SDL party to be part of the charter process. Up until now they have not agreed. So there is an issue there."

Reverend Akuila Yabaki says his organisation has recommended a similar solution some months ago.