Opposition MPs in the Cook Islands have put out a statement explaining their boycott of the re-opening of parliament today.
The MPs said there are two vacant seats in parliament yet the government intends pushing through legislation that will affect the people of those constituencies.
Cook Islands Parliament Photo: Supplied
The Democratic Party and the One Cook Islands Party said it is inappropriate for Cook Islands people to be disenfranchised in this way, and so they have stayed away.
Their boycott ensures parliament lack the necessary quorum and so cannot pass legislation.
The government has just 12 seats in the 24 seat house and the opposition said it has lost any mandate to govern.
It said elections must be called.
In June the opposition staged a vote of no confidence in the government and says today it has filed proceedings in the High Court to address some of the concerns it has about what happened when that vote was dismissed.
