An expert in transitional politics, Paul Buchanan, says the Fiji regime has until the end of January to announce key election machinery or risk next year's polls being seen as illegitimate.
The regime's leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama has promised elections by the end of September but his critics says he is stalling on preparations like announcing the Electoral Commission to enhance his chance of winning.
Dr Buchanan who is a political risk consultant with 36th Parallel Assessments says the clock starts ticking in the new year.
"An announcement as to the Commission and the process by which the elections will be held needs to be made in early January, late January at the very latest. Certainly no less than six months are needed in order for this to be held as a legitimate exercise. Anything short of that will pretty much de-legitimate it pretty much from the get-go."
Paul Buchanan says everything can be accomplished in that time frame assuming there is good faith on the part of the military regime and its opposition.
