20 May 2016

Vohor dropped as leader of Vanuatu's UMP

8:06 am on 20 May 2016

The Union of Moderate Parties, or UMP, in Vanuatu has elected Jacque Meriago Nauka as its new president.

Serge Vohor 2012

Incarcerated former UMP president Serge Vohor. Photo: Graham Crumb

Mr Nauka has been the vice president of the party for the last 3 years and replaces Serge Vohor, who is one of 14 MPs serving a prison sentence for bribery.

Vohor was president of UMP for 29 years after being elected to parliament in 1987.

About 300 delegates attended the UMP national congress in Port Vila today, including Vohor and another of the jailed MPs, Tony Wright.

Their short release has reportedly sparked some controversy with the director of the prison saying he didn't know anything about it.

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