The reforms also hope to achieve multiracial government by requiring the largest party in parliament to invite parties crossing a certain threshold into government. The Great Council of Chiefs, a group of unelected, traditional rulers, will still appoint the largely ceremonial president. The Senate also remains appointed. With general elections expected in May 1999, political parties began forming multiracial alliances. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Fijians have voted twice under a constitution that was promulgated by an unelected government without a referendum, and that ensures indigenous-Fijians a parliamentary majority.
Opposition parties are active and influential within the limits of the system.
The opposition FLP has criticized the 1997 constitutional amendments as inadequate for ending race-bound politics. While the electoral changes will take effect with the 1999 vote, other constitutional amendments including a new Bill of Rights took effect in July 1998. However, in July, parliament undermined the Bill by enacting a new Emergency Powers Act. The Act authorizes the president to declare a state of emergency, which would empower parliament to impose broad press and communications censorship, seize private property, conduct searches without warrants, and ban public meetings. The judiciary is independent.