PUBLIC SERVANTS MANDATED TO RESIGN
By: Nanai Taofiga Laveitiga Tuiletufuga
Public servants contemplating to run as Electoral Candidates in the 2021 General Elections will be mandated to resign.
A new amendment in the Electoral Act makes it compulsory for public servants including Judiciary officers and Judges to relinquish their government jobs, explains Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio.
The mandate is in the Electoral Act, says Electoral Commissioner clarifying that the Act prescribes if a Public Servant does not tender a resignation to pursue his or her political aspirations their status as government employee will automatically become void the minute they file their registration as an Electoral Candidate.
The law prescribes for public servants to resign six months before the polls.
To date, three government Chief Executive Officers have publicly declared their intention to run for office under the Human Rights Protection Party.
For the 2021 General Elections in April, candidates registration will commence on 12th October 2020 and will close 23rd of the month.
