10 Dec 2009

Vanuatu's Natapei survives 6th no confidence motion since last year's election

7:02 pm on 10 December 2009

Vanuatu's prime minister, Edward Natapei, has again defeated a no confidence motion - the sixth since last year's election.

Mr Natapei had the support of 36 MPs while the opposition mustered only 11 votes.

There was one abstention and four MPs were not in parliament.

In presenting the motion, the opposition leader, Ham Lini, admitted that his side lacked the numbers to succeed but the vote had to be held because the motion had been approved by the speaker, Maxime Carlot Korman.

Mr Lini said he wanted to oust the prime minister because there was no valid reasons to reshuffle the government last month as that cost the country 350,000 US dollars.

He says another reason was last year's repeal of Vanuatu Maritime Authority which has cost the country two million US dollars.

Mr Lini has also accused Mr Natapei of making unnecessary overseas trips.