Fiji enters strict election blackout

Supporters cannot wear the logo or colours of any political party and are not allowed to promote parties in any way.

Breaking the electoral restriction can result in a maximum fine of Fiji $50,000 and up to 10 years imprisonment.

Supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem said the strict blackout is to give Fijians a reprieve and time to decide who to vote for ahead of Wednesday's poll.

"It protects voters from the incessant campaigns over the last three weeks," he said.

Saneem also defended the strict media restrictions, saying political parties and candidates would be handicapped if journalists could report on campaign issues but they couldn't respond.

"The idea is for voters to have time off, to think about things," he said.

"If the media continues to report on campaign issues that voters are supposed to be given a break from, then what is the point of having a blackout period?"

Two former coup leaders are vying for the top job, with Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe "Frank" Bainimarama asking voters to stay the course.

A victory will take Bainimarama to two decades at the top of Fijian politics after he instigated a coup in 2006 and installed himself as prime minister the year after.

He took FijiFirst to a democratic election in 2014 and won, but his majority was cut to 50.02 per cent at the 2018 poll.

People's Alliance leader Sitiveni Rabuka is working with the smaller National Federation Party to dispel the FijiFirst government.

Rabuka instigated a coup in 1987 and led the country through the 1990s after reinstating democratic elections in 1992.

He headed the opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party, known as SODELPA, to the 2018 election and gained six seats but started the People's Alliance in 2021 after he was ousted as leader.

Nine other SODELPA parliamentarians then jumped ship to support Rabuka and join the People's Alliance.

This article was made possible through the Melbourne Press Club's Michael Gordon Journalism Fellowship Program.