7 Dec 2012

Vanuatu no confidence vote delayed till Monday

5:31 pm on 7 December 2012

A planned vote of no confidence in the Vanuatu Parliament failed to go ahead today after opposition MPs boycotted the sitting.

The opposition had sought the extra-ordinary session to hear a motion for a vote of no confidence into the government of Sato Kilman which assumed power just three weeks ago.

The Government claimed the motion was invalid but the opposition had this overturned in the Supreme Court this morning.

At this afternoon's session 29 government MPs appeared but the opposition stayed away, depriving the Parliament of a quorum.

An opposition MP says some of their members had not arrived in Port Vila in time for the meeting.

Another attempt to stage the no confidence vote is expected on Monday.