18 Dec 2010

Vanuatu deputy speaker approves no-confidence debate

6:18 am on 18 December 2010

Vanuatu's Parliament will meet on Christmas Eve to debate the motion of no confidence against the prime minister, Sato Kilman.

The Speaker, Maxime Carlot Korman, left Vanuatu on Wednesday for medical check up in Australia, after declaring that the motions deposited on Tuesday by the leader of the opposition and former prime minister, Edward Natapei not in order.

Mr Carlot had said that the two motions were not in order because parliament is in recess from Monday.

He also said the MP of Paama, David Ariasu and the MP of Ambae, James Wango, had withdrawn their signatures.

However, the two MPs said that they never withdrew their signatures and accused the government of falsifying them.

The deputy speaker of parliament, Peter Vuta, in the absence of the speaker, has confirmed the motion, and called an extra ordinary session to debate it.