Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says SODELPA made a silly move by walking out of parliament and their argument on the appointment of the President is flawed.
Sayed-Khaiyum says President Konrote was elected by parliament in October 2015, a month before the former President’s term expired.
Sayed-Khaiyum says it is worrying that we have that type of very pedestrian interpretation of the law.
He says it makes practical sense to appoint the President before the term expires as it was done in 2015.
SODELPA MP Semesa Karavaki, Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa, MP Mere Samisoni and MP Niko Nawaikula
After the parliament walkout, Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa says that there is a danger that when the President issues the Writ of Elections, it can be challenged as illegal as she says that he was not appointed in accordance with the constitution. Ro Teimumu says the repercussions for the country can be enormous.
She says that SODELPA is also of the view that following the declaration made by the Fiji Court of Appeal in April 2009 that the 1997 constitution is still the supreme law of the land, the Great Council of Chiefs must have the right to choose the Head of State.
Although Ro Teimumu had earlier said in a statement that they had a nominee for President, she has refused to reveal their choice this afternoon. She also says that their walkout does not relate to the person who has been elected as President but the process that has been followed.
She also says that their supporters agree with their decision and they want the GCC to appoint the country’s President.
