{
  "id": 9263648,
  "title": "Fiji proposes scrapping immunity for past coup leaders including current PM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/fiji-proposes-scrapping-immunity-for-past-coup-leaders-including",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T03:44:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-23/review-of-fijis-constitution-recommends-sweeping-changes/107182064"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Fiji's Constitution Review Commission has proposed significant changes to the country's supreme law, including scrapping immunity for those involved in military coups and restoring a bicameral parliament. The report, presented to Fiji Parliament on Tuesday, recommends scrapping the \"absolute and irrevocable immunity\" that shields past coup leaders, including current Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, from prosecution. The commission also proposes a return to a bicameral parliament with 60 seats, consisting of 41 members in the House of Representatives and 19 in the Senate. The changes come after the military government of Frank Bainimarama seized power in a 2006 coup, and the Supreme Court found the current constitution to have a \"democratic deficit.\" Experts have raised concerns about removing immunity for past coup leaders, particularly for current Prime Minister Rabuka, while questioning the recommendation to give Rotuma, a self-governing island, a constitutional path to self-determination. The government needs 37 votes from Fiji's 55-member parliament to pass the constitutional amendment bill, which will then go to the president and the electoral commission for a referendum.",
  "summary": "A Constitution Review Commission has recommended removing immunity provisions that protect anyone involved in military coups from facing prosecution.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Scrapping immunity for past coup leaders, including current PM Sitiveni Rabuka, would expose them to prosecution and mark a significant shift in Fiji's post-coup politics and accountability landscape.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}