3 Feb 2016

Vanuatu parliament to meet next week

12:39 pm on 3 February 2016

The new Vanuatu parliament is set to meet for the first time next Thursday with no word yet on the formation of any coalition government.

The acting clerk of the Vanuatu parliament, Leon Teter, said the main item on the agenda of the meeting on February 11 is the election of a new prime minister and the speaker.

The official results of last month's snap election were released yesterday confirming 17 political parties in the 52 seat legislature.

The caretaker prime minister, Sato Kilman, and former prime minister, Joe Natuman have been separately lobbying among the MPs.

Mr Natuman's Unity for Change planned a meeting at parliament this morning to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with another coalition grouping.

Local media were promised a press conference at 9am today, but it has been adjourned twice.

Our correspondent says it is understood the MPs are still working on the MOA.