With the Prime Minister to be sworn in today, the matter of a new Speaker of the House will also be up for discussion.

While the FijiFirst Party has the majority of the House of Representatives with 27 seats, the Social Democratic Liberal Party with 21 and NFP with three, a consensus can reached on the bipartisan choice.

Current Speaker of the House, Dr. Jiko Luveni has clarified what the next steps will be after today’s official swearing in.

“Well when they, the candidates have been announced then the candidates will have to sworn in and after swearing in, then they will elect the Speaker, and the Speaker can be anybody, it’s open to everybody.”

Under section 77 subsection 1 of the Constitution which refers to Institutions and Offices, at its first sitting after the general election, Parliament must elect by a simple majority vote a Speaker who is not a Member of Parliament but who is qualified to be a candidate for election as a Member of Parliament.

Meanwhile, a Deputy Speaker, again a simple majority vote from amongst the members of Parliament, excluding Ministers for this position applies.