News

Constitution change faces setback

March 11, 2025 9:13 pm

The Constitution Amendment Bill has not managed to get the 75 percent majority that is required for the amendments to take place.

The final vote count was 40 in favor, 14 against, and one did not vote.

The 40 included Independent Opposition MP’s Sachida Nand and Shalen Kumar.

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Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko says three quarters of the members equals 41 members which has not been achieved so the bill shall not proceed.

“Standing orders 93(1)(b) states that no less than three-quarters of all members vote in favour of the Bill being read a second time. Three quarters of all members equals 41 members of parliament.”

He adds that it ends here given that only 40 votes were in favour.

Therefore he adds the bill will not proceed and is defeated.

The 2013 Constitution was promulgated and came into force on September 7, 2013.

Under Section 159, constitutional amendments can only be made following the procedure out-lined in Chapter 11 of the Constitution.

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