29 Jun 2009

Rebel MP in Vanuatu claims new party will become country's biggest

3:22 pm on 29 June 2009

A leading Vanuatu opposition MP says a planned merging of small opposition parties and independents will become the country's biggest political party by the end of the year.

George Wells, who was recently removed as speaker of parliament after defecting to the opposition from the government coalition, says all opposition parties have agreed to come together under one alliance.

He says the grouping is to be administered by a newly-established interim committee which is tasked with organising a congress by the end of the year to formalise the alliance as a new political party.

"By the end of this year, we should announce the new party that will comprise seventeen members of parliament. That will be the biggest party in parliament. We are looking on the upcoming by-elections to field two candidates, that will be on the sixth of August, the by-election of Efate Rural."

George Wells