Fiji Opposition Walkout as President gets reconfirmed

BY NETANI RIKA


FIJIAN President, Major- General Jioje Konrote, was reappointed for a three year term this hour. But Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa led Social Democratic Liberal Party out of the house in protest against the election.

SODELPA member Semesa Karavaki earlier raised a point of order claiming the election contravenes Section 84 of the Constitution.

Karavaki said there was no vacancy as Konrote term had not expired.

He said it would be unconstitutional to elect a President before October 6 when Konrote’s term expired.

Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni rules against the point of order. Konrote was then nominated by Prime Minister Rear-Admiral Frank Baimimarama.

There was no other nomination. Under the Constitution only the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition make nominations.