19 Feb 2016

Fiji's NFP suspension lifted, but legal action still on

7:06 am on 19 February 2016

Fiji's registrar of Political Parties has lifted the 30 day suspension he imposed on the opposition National Federation Party on 31st January.

The party and its three MPs in the 50 seat parliament had allegedly contravened the Political Parties Decree by having its annual accounts audited by an accountant who was not certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

The party was told it had 60 days to remedy the breach or face deregistration as a political party.

One of the NFP parliamentarians, Tupou Draunidalo, said their lawyer wrote to the registrar today to say the accounts had been re-audited by an approved accountant.

But she said the letter was submitted without prejudice to the legal action filed by the NFP at the beginning of this week, challenging the suspension.

"The legal action is asking the court to determine whether the decision to suspend the Party was lawful or not," said Tupou Draunidalo.

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