PM TO BAINIMARAMA BE SWORN-IN TODAY
This will be followed by a series of processes before Parliament is opened before December 2
FijiFirst party leader Voreqe Bainimarama will be sworn in as Prime Minister for a second term at 10am today. He will take the oath before the President, Major-General
(Ret’d) Jioji Konrote, at State House.
That will set in motion a series of important processes before the new Parliament convenes.
According to the Constitution, Parliament needs to sit within 14 days from when the writ of elections is returned to the President.
The writ was returned on Sunday. Parliament must be convened by December 2. The next event after the PM is sworn in is Mr Konrote swearing in the Cabinet ministers. Then the Secretary-General of Parliament swears in the rest of the elected members of the three political parties, FijiFirst, National Federation Party and SODELPA in Parliament.
After that the Secretary-General calls for nominations for Speaker from the floor.
It is most likely that the FijiFirst Government will nominate current Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni, to serve for another term. Dr Luveni’s term ends one day before Parliament sits.
The Speaker will then call for nominations for Opposition Leader. Sitiveni Rabuka, the outgoing SODELPA party leader, is likely to be nominated and become the new Opposition Leader. Voting will be confined to the Opposition members, SODELPA’s 21 MPs and NFP’s three.
Parliament is then ready for the ceremonial opening by the President.