Q1. Explain the major provisions of 2013 constitution.
The 2013 Constitution was enacted by the Bainimarama government after it had rejected an earlier draft constitution produced by its independent Constitution Commission chaired by Professor Yash Ghai. The new constitution however was imposed without meaningful consultation . Although the Constitution draws much of its provision from the 1990 and 1997 Constitution and meets the principles and values which was set by the government itself, the 2013 Constitution had fallen short in some key areas .
First and foremost is the Omission of Women. Although the Bill of Rights had proposed for equality and freedom, women were not mentioned once in the constitution. In fact, there were no positive duties on the government to promote participation of women or to protect their distinct needs.
Second, Free and Fair elections. For elections to be free and fair, the following factors must be considered.
(i) an agreed constitutional and legislative framework
(ii) administrators of free and fair elections supported by free media and peacekeeping
(iii) Agreement of all political parties to participate in competitive elections.
Coupled with that is the constitution Framework which includes the infrastructure for elections, registration for elections, voting and voting rights, eligibility of voters and candidates, form of voting system ,elections commission, media rights protection and punishment or penalties for electoral practices.
Also The Fijian Government Constitution or the FGC created two key institutions for elections which is the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Election.
Last but not the least is the Consent of Elections.Political parties must agree to participate in an election to be valid. Citizens of each party must make that decisions themselves.
Q2. What factors led to the Fiji first winning the 2014 elections?
There were a number of factors that resulted in the victory of the Fiji First party during the 2014 elections.
First , a reduction in the voting age to 18 years when a significant proportion of voters who won around 30% voted for the first time. They came of age in the era of turmoil caused by the Fiji coup, and many did not recall all of the Fijian elections that preceded the coup, and did not recall how the country's young democratic spirit was maintained when Bainimarama blamed old Fijian politicians for Fiji's problems, and many believed him.
Although there were many "bad" old politicians in his own party. Fiji's historical memory is shallow, and there is virtually no reading culture. People had no opportunity to verify the authenticity of what they were told or heard.
But what they heard from the Commodore was music to their ears, which identified equal citizenship, equal opportunity, the end of racial discrimination, the end of the era of the rights of rich and wealthy people.
From then on , the country has been running on merit and not inheritance. The emphasis on preserving Sodelpa's customs and traditions was no less than that of a civilized and nurtured society in Fiji. They were marching in a different direction.
Bainimarama’s Fiji First party most estimates won more than 80% of Indian Fijian votes, and about 40% of indigenous voters. This however, has changed the fundamental importance. Primarily for the declared political platform of inclusiveness and equality.
All in all , the winning of the Fiji First party during the 2014 elections was due to the mentioned factors as well as promised agendas and proposals of reform to the people of Fiji. He created a campaign that stood for Change which was much more unique than past leaderships in Fiji. A “New Fiji” .