My fellow Fijians, Bula Vinaka.
Today, I address you as your Prime Minister with a heavy but clear sense of responsibility. After careful consideration by Cabinet, I have decided to defer the Local Government Elections to a date to be determined after the upcoming General Elections. This was not an easy decision. Restoring elected local governments has been a core promise of this Coalition Government.
The previous Fiji First administration repeatedly promised municipal elections but failed to amend a single law or prepare the ground, this Government has taken concrete, serious steps forward. We have advanced amendments to the relevant laws. We have worked on new regulations. We have initiated voter registration processes and begun the necessary budgetary preparations. Real progress has been made. We were committed to delivering democratic local councils this year.
However, events beyond our control now compel us to act with prudence and fiscal responsibility. Global headwinds have intensified. Oil supply disruptions and sharp price shocks are placing significant pressure on our economy, on businesses, on families, and on government finances. Fuel costs are rising, and the flow-on eNects touch every household in our nation — from transportation and food prices to the cost of essential services.
Just as Cabinet was deliberating on requests from the bus companies to be cushioned by an increase in bus fares, Electricity Fiji Limited has announced that it may resort to power rationing if their bill footprint, is not mitigated by Government. The Local Government Elections will impose an 18 million dollar impact on an already tighter fiscal space in the 2026/ 2027 Budget.
In this uncertain global environment, we must prioritize. We must protect essential services, support our people through these pressures, and maintain stability. Holding Local Government Elections, a Constitutional Referendum, and General Elections all within a tight six-month period would stretch our resources, our electoral machinery, and — most importantly — our people. Voter burnout is a real risk. When citizens are asked to the polls too frequently in a short space of time, fatigue sets in, participation drops, and the quality of our democracy suffers. Plus, all the cost of these polls, not only to the government, but to you, the people of Fiji. I will not allow that to happen.
As your Prime Minister, I have a duty to protect the integrity of our electoral processes and ensure that every vote cast carries its full meaning and energy. This deferral is therefore a decisive but responsible call. It is not a retreat from our commitment to local democracy — it is a strategic pause to ensure we get it right under the prevailing conditions. Local Government Elections will be held. Elected councils will be restored. But they will be held at a time when we can give them the full attention, resources, and public engagement they deserve — after the General Elections.
To the people of Fiji, especially those in our municipalities and towns who have waited long for this restoration of local voice I ask for your understanding. This government has delivered more progress on local government reform in these few years than the previous administration did in eight. We remain committed to devolving power, improving service delivery at the local level, and giving you a greater say in how your towns and cities are run.
To our dedicated public servants, the Electoral Commission, and all those who have worked hard on preparations: thank you. Your efforts have not been wasted. The groundwork you have laid will accelerate the process once we set the new date.
My fellow Fijians, leadership requires difficult choices. In times of global uncertainty, the responsible path is not to spend more than we should or to risk exhausting our people. The responsible path is to safeguard our nation’s finances, protect household livelihoods, and strengthen our democracy for the long term. We will continue to manage the affairs of our councils diligently under the current arrangements until elected officials take their places. And we will use the coming period to further strengthen the legal and institutional framework so that when elections are held, local government emerges stronger, more effective, and more responsive to your needs.
I want to assure every citizen: this Coalition Government remains steadfast in its promise of better governance, greater accountability, and true democratic renewal. We do not make promises lightly, and we do not walk away from them. We adjust responsibly when the world changes around us.
Let us now move forward together — with unity, resilience, and hope. Fiji has faced greater challenges before and emerged stronger. We will do so again.
To the local Government interim Administrators, thank You for holding the fort of our Municipal communities, and I asked that you persevere for just a little longer.
God bless Fiji.
Vinaka vakalevu.
Thank you.
