Fiji - December 2025

Fiji’s government tabled the National Referendum Bill 2025 in parliament on 4 December to create a legal framework for a future constitutional referendum. The thresholds for approval were considered nearly impossible until the Supreme Court lowered them in a controversial August 2025 ruling. Among other similar provisions, the Bill would prohibit the creation or distribution of campaign materials, canvassing at people’s homes and communicating ‘by word, message, writing, or any other manner’ on whether or how voters should vote. Some violations would be punishable by a year in prison. The Bill has been strongly criticized by civil society and legal experts for essentially extending the standard pre-election campaigning ban to the entire referendum process. This would ensure that the government would be the only source of information for any future referendum, and prevent civil society, journalistic, and opposition participation completely. The Bill has been sent to committee for review and will be debated when parliament reconvenes in February 2026.

Sources: Radio New Zealand, Fiji One News, Fiji Times, International IDEA, Parliament of Fiji