10 Dec 2009

Vanuatu parliament to vote on no confidence motion

4:15 pm on 10 December 2009

The Speaker of the Vanuatu parliament has reconfirmed that the motion of no confidence against the prime minister, Edward Natapei, is in order to be debated this afternoon.

The motion was signed and deposited by 11 opposition members led by Ham Lini.

It is the fifth such challenge since last year's election.

Our correspondent says Mr Lini has tried to win over 16 government MPs by offering them the position of the prime minister.

But this morning's session showed that Mr Natapei is still commanding the majority of the 52 members.

Yesterday he summoned the council of ministers during which his two coalition partners, the Union of Moderate Parties of the minister of public utilities, Serge Vohor and the Alliance of the deputy prime minister, Sato Kilman, reiterated their support to the current coalition government.