18 Feb 2015

Vanuatu to discuss reform on Wednesday

11:10 am on 18 February 2015

Vanuatu political parties leaders are to meet tomorrow to discuss political reforms ahead of a more public series of workshops next week.

For some time Vanuatu has been talking about changes to make the political system more stable.

However the prime minister, Joe Natuman, who has faced a series of no confidence motions in his nine months in office, wants reform now as a matter of priority.

His spokesperson, Kiery Manassah, says key elements to be discussed are proposed controls on political party membership based on the experiences of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

"Register the political parties, get them properly organised, probably something along the lines of what we have done where before you form a political party you have to have a certain amount of support from the voters. Show that you have the support and then you register the party. Something along those lines."

Listen to full interview with Kiery Manassah on Dateline Pacific

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Photo: RNZ / Walter Zweifel