FIJI’S military regime has published its blueprint for a new electoral system that would end the current reservation of seats for racial groups, designed to ensure dominance by indigenous Fijians.

How it will come into legal force is still unclear, though the military commander and self-appointed Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has spoken of validating it through a referendum, Australian newspapers reported.

Fiji’s constitution only allows for amendments if they receive approval from two-thirds of the parliament, but its legislators and the elected government was dismissed in the wake of Commodore Bainimarama’s coup in December 2006.

Bainimarama is now taking on the ethnic Fijian establishment and is facing down the powerful Methodist Church, often called "the Taukei (ethnic Fiji nationalist) movement at prayer". He is also resisting pressure from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific nations to stick to a promise made at a regional meeting in Tonga last October to hold elections by the end of next March.

Bainimarama has indicated that he plans to hold the elections under the new voting system, outlined by a community panel chaired by himself and Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca. The panel has 10 soldiers among its 35 members.

The panel drafted the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress, which the military government said must be accepted in popular consultations over the next two months before any move to hold elections.

Under the plan, the voting system would change from the racial division that has been in force since independence from Britain in 1970, to one based on proportional representation. Everyone would be called "Fijian" and ethnic Fijians referred to as "itaukei". The voting age would drop from 21 to 18 and it implements a leadership code of conduct. The charter also promises to reduce poverty by stepping up economic growth and programs for the poor.

As well, it seeks to tackle the country’s so-called coup culture, which has seen Fiji governments overthrown four times since 1987.

Political leaders, including ousted prime minister Laisenia Qarase, have said the constitution can only be altered by democratically elected leaders.

The document will be open for two months of public consultation.