Fiji's major opposition political party is the first off the block to reveal an initial batch of 28 candidates to contest the 2022 general election as the campaign period kicked off this week.
The Social Democratic Liberal Party or Sodelpa which represents mostly the indigenous Fijian voting base announced four sitting members of parliament and three former MPs in their line-up on Friday.
Viliame Gavoka. Photo: Supplied
While making the announcement, Sodelpa leader Viliame Gavoka described the moment as pivotal for his party as they head into the polls, which could be held anytime between June 2022 and January 2023.
"As you can see from the list these are a very good mix of people in here, people with depth, people with experience. Some sitting parliamentarians, former parliamentarians and professionals from other fields who will be standard-bearers for Sodelpa in 2022," he said.
Sodelpa won 21 parliamentary seats during the 2018 elections.
Electoral Commission chairperson Mukesh Nand said the electoral system in Fiji did not provide for a fixed date for the General Election.
He said the campaign period starts a month before the earliest date that the election writ can be issued by the President which is May 26.
He said the official campaign period signifies that the campaign rules under the Electoral Act 2014 come into effect now.