14 Jun 2011

Supreme Court of Vanuatu to deliver ruling over election of Sato Kilman as PM

1:55 pm on 14 June 2011

The Supreme Court of Vanuatu is due to hand deliver its ruling on the constitutionality of the election of Sato Kilman as prime minister of Vanuatu tomorrow.

Yesterday, Chief Justice Vincent Lanabek heard 5 witnesses for the opposition leader, Edward Natapei and 4 witnesses for Mr Kilman.

The Court also heard the speaker of parliament, Maxime Carlot Korman and clerk of the parliament, Lino Bulekuli dit Saksak.

Mr Carlot and Mr Saksak both told the court that on 2nd December 2010, there was no election to select Mr Kilman as prime minister.

Mr Carlot told the Court that he only made a declaration that Mr Kilman was prime minister because there was no other nomination for the position.

Vanuatu's constitution says that parliament shall elect the prime minister by secret ballot.

Yesterday Mr Natapei, through his legal representation, asked the Court to make an order that the election of Mr Kilman was unconstitutional and invalid.