2 Dec 2014

Suspension of Vanuatu MPs invalid

3:00 pm on 2 December 2014

The Supreme Court in Vanuatu has ruled that the suspension of the opposition leader and 15 of his MPs from parliament is invalid.

Vanuatu opposition leader Moana Carcasses

Vanuatu opposition leader Moana Carcasses Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

Last week, the government succeeded in pushing through the suspension of the MPs, alleging they had contravened the Leadership Code in accepting money from the opposition leader, Moana Carcasses.

The MPs challenged their suspension, and Justice Oliver Saksak has ruled that a parliamentary standing order does not provide a motion to suspend an MP on an allegation of something committed outside of parliament.

This ruling means the MPs will be able to attend a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, Joe Natuman, at parliament this afternoon.

Mr Natuman currently has the support of 32 MPs in the 54-member house.