Holding the 2022 General Election in December could result in low voter turnout because of inclement weather and the movement of people in the lead up to Christmas.
This, according to the former prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
He said this in response to comments made by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to former Fijians living in the United States last week.
At a talanoa session with members of the Fijian diaspora at the Doubletree Hotel in San Francisco, the PM said the country would go to the polls this year, but did not specify when.
Mr Bainimarama also said, “it will be not like the two previous elections, it won’t be long”.
Mr Chaudhry said, as usual, the PM saying the elections would be held this year and not next January “is not a straight answer to the question he was asked”.
However, he said whatever the date was, the party was ready for the polls.
“It seems he is planning on an end-of-the-year election, which puts it right into the thick of the cyclone season,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“An election in December could result in low voter turnout because of the inclement weather conditions around that time of the year, with the attention of the people remaining mainly focussed on the Christmas holidays.”
