25 Jun 2015

Vanuatu speaker to appeal motion ruling

4:14 pm on 25 June 2015

The speaker of Vanuatu's parliament Marcellino Pipite says he will appeal the Supreme Court decision upholding the opposition's application for a vote of no confidence against the Sato Kilman-led Government.

The court yesterday ordered parliament to reconvene next Tuesday to hear the motion, declaring that last week's decision by Mr Pipite to rule out the motion of no confidence was in breach of the applicants' constitutional right to have debated their motion of no confidence.

The Daily Post reports that Justice Dudley Aru's ruling also declares that the new speaker's move to close parliament last week was unlawful.

Mr Pipite, who was installed as speaker by the Kilman government last week in one if its first moves since removing the government of Joe Natuman, is quoted on Radio Vanuatu News this morning as saying he will appeal.

Sato Kilman - pictured during a visit to Russia in March 2015

Vanuatu PM, Sato Kilman Photo: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti