Fiji’s Registrar of Political Parties has de-listed HOPE as a political party, with immediate effect, for breach of one of the country’s electoral laws, months away from the 2022 General Elections.
The move comes after HOPE, which is headed by Roko Tupou Draunidalo and was registered in 2018, failed to submit their audited accounts for 2020 as required under Section 26(2) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
Registrar Mohammed Saneem said the party was given notice and additional time to attend to the matter but failed to do so prompting him to de-register the party as provided for under Section 19(5) of the same act.
Consequently, office holders of the deregistered party have been reminded of section 20 of the Act that prohibits them from advertising or calling a meeting as a political party unless the meeting that is being called is to either wind up the party or to challenge its deregistration.
Furthermore, the section disallows the party from inviting others to support the party, nor make a contribution or loan to funds or to be held by or for the benefit of the political party or accept a contribution or loan, or give guarantee in respect of such funds.
Fiji’s 2022 General Elections can be held anytime between 9 July 2022 and 9 January 2023.
