THE 2018 General Election was well-administered, with voting and counting transparent and credible, stated the Multinational Observer Group (MOG) final report on the November polls.
Co-chaired by Wajid Fauzi from Indonesia, Jane Prentice from Australia, and Mukesh Sahu from India, and supported by more than 70 observers from 10 countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the MOG observed a wide range of Fiji’s electoral processes and consulted extensively with key stakeholders.
In delivering the report yesterday, Mr Fauzi congratulated Fiji on the overall conduct of the election.
“Our report and recommendations are based on the independent, objective and thorough observations our team made at more than 500 polling stations across Fiji and the extensive engagement the co-chairs and long-term observers had with stakeholders before and after the November poll,” he said.
Mr Fauzi said the security environment was peaceful and the campaign competitive during the election.
“Conditions overall supported Fijians to exercise their right to vote freely and the outcome broadly represented the will of the voters.
“We offer 21 recommendations in a constructive spirit to build on the achievements of this election. If implemented, these recommendations will support Fiji in its efforts to further strengthen its electoral system and institutions ahead of the next election in 2022.”
Mr Sahu outlined some of the MOG’s recommendations, noting that democracy was an ongoing process of learning and building.
“The Electoral Commission plays a central role in Fiji’s electoral system, and we have recommended that it be provided with greater resources to deliver on its mandate more effectively.
“In addition, we believe measures to strengthen the commission’s capacity and transparency will help build greater understanding of the commission’s role and the electoral system, as well as build further trust among stakeholders and with the electorate,” Mr Sahu said.
The MOG also recommended that some electoral laws be reviewed to ensure they do not unnecessarily inhibit voter participation in the electoral process and that the framework best supports voter understanding of the electoral system.
The report also included recommendations that cover voter education activities and mechanisms to support civil society playing a greater role in electoral processes.
It also proposes a review of the media regulatory framework both during the ‘blackout’ period before polling and during the broader electoral cycle.
Endorsing the comments of Mr Fauzi and Mr Sahu, Mrs Prentice added that the 2018 election would prove a milestone in Fiji’s democratic progression.
“The election not only met a high standard in its technical and procedural aspects, it also demonstrated that important democratic norms, like transparency and diversity, continue to evolve in a positive direction in Fiji,” Mrs Prentice said.
