Former and longest serving Secretary General to Parliament, Mary Chapman says the FijiFirst Party should not interfere with the votes of their members in Parliament because political parties remain outside of Parliamentary procedures.

Her comments follows the expulsion of 17 FijiFirst Party members who voted for the salary and allowance increase.

This is despite the directive from FFP for them not to vote for the increase.

In an interview, Ms Chapman said if political parties interfered with their members votes in Parliament, then what independence does the Parliament have to conduct its own procedures without interference from outside forces.

Ms Chapman said MPs votes and their choices were part of a democratic process that should be respected.

“Fijians should fight for an independent Parliament like I used to do in my days.”