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Fijians will go to the polls just 11 days out from Christmas after the island's prime minister announced December 14 as the date for national elections.
Key points:
- 55,391 more people have registered to vote compared to 2018
- The election is set to be a contest between two former military commanders who were instigators of military coups in the country
- Fiji's opposition MPs say the government is creating new restrictions to win back power
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama informed President Wiliame Katonivere of the polling date on Sunday morning, following months of election campaigning and speculation over the date.
It comes on the back of complaints by opposition political parties over a lack of a date.
The Electoral Commission said 692,918 people have registered to vote in the election which will cost $FJD26million ($17.6 million).
Electoral Commission Chair, Mukesh Nand said more than 7,500 staff would be employed across almost 1500 venues both on election day and at pre-polling venues.
"We are optimistic that this year's election will set new benchmarks. This can only be possible if all voters exercise their democratic right and come out to vote," Mr Nand said.
"It is incumbent on us to ensure that every effort has been made to make the 2022 General Election simple, easy and convenient."
The Writ of Elections due to be issued on Monday will set in motion the final processes ahead of the polls which include the end of voter registrations, the opening of postal ballot applications and the nomination of election candidates.
Elections officials are now catering to an expected registration rush with major supermarkets hosting last minute registrations.
There are already 55,391 more people registered to vote in these elections compared to 2018.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said members of the Multinational Observer Group, which is led by Australia have started to arrive.
Fiji's last election was held in 2018.
Government targets opposition party with charges
Fiji's national election is set to be a contest between two former military commanders, both former instigators of military coups in the country.
The prime minister's Fiji First Party will go head to head with the People's Alliance headed by Sitiveni Rabuka.
Opposition MPs have accused Mr Bainimarama's government of conducting a campaign of coordinated intimidation and legal harassment against its political opponents ahead of the election.
On Wednesday, Biman Prasad — the leader of the opposition National Federation Party — was charged with two counts of "insulting the modesty" of a person.
The party said police have accused Mr Prasad of hugging and "kissing the cheek" of Ari Taniguchi, the wife of former NFP provisional candidate Hiroshi Taniguchi, on two occasions at the National Federation Party offices in Fiji's capital, Suva.
The National Federation Party called the accusations "trivial" and "malicious" on social media.
The episode is likely to stir fresh anxieties in Fiji that opposition MPs and government critics are being deliberately targeted by both courts and police in the lead up to the poll.