9 Dec 2004

Vanuatu Appeal Court decision on no confidence vote to be released at 3pm tomorrow

8:41 pm on 9 December 2004

The Vanuatu Court of Appeal is to hand down its decision tomorrow afternoon on whether Parliament can hold a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Serge Vohor.

The Supreme Court earlier this week ruled that the Speaker, Josias Moli, erred in denying the Opposition the vote last week.

The Government had claimed that a constitutional change blocking such votes 12 months either side of an election was in force, but the Chief Justice, Vincent Lunabek, said on Tuesday that the new law needs public endorsement in a referendum.

Parliament was to meet immediately to hold the vote but the Government won a stay pending the outcome of its appeal.