The president of Vanuatu has dissolved parliament, triggering a snap-election, for the second time in two years.
RNZ reports that Nikenike Vurobaravu’s decision comes on the eve of a motion of no-confidence from the parliamentary opposition against prime minister Charlot Salwai, and a separate motion seeking his removal.
It was made off the back of a recommendation from the Vanuatu Council of Ministers (Cabinet) on Monday afternoon after an earlier boycott of parliament by the opposition group.
A spokesperson from the caretaker prime minister’s office says the council’s recommendation was made because of defections from the government creating an untenable situation – in which members of the same political parties were split across the government and the opposition benches.
It comes just two years since the last dissolution of parliament and only a year since one was narrowly avoided.
RNZ Pacific understands the opposition has sought a stay on the dissolution of parliament with the courts.
But it is unlikely to succeed, as a similar legal challenge in 2022 was denied on the grounds that the constitution grants the president absolute authority and discretion over the dissolution of parliament, once he receives a recommendation from the council of ministers.
An officer with the Vanuatu Electoral Commission told RNZ Pacific they are already making preparations for a snap election while awaiting a decision from the court.
According to the country’s constitution, an election must be held no less than 30 days after the dissolution of parliament and no more than 60.
This means the earliest date that a snap election can be held is 18 December, and the latest is 18 January 2025.
The spokesperson for the care-taker prime minister’s office says the caretaker minister of internal affairs will gazette the recent constitutional amendments voted for in a national referendum that seek to curb political instability in the country.
While Vanuatu is well known for its chronic political instability the past few years have been particularly crippling with the current situation set to make it four changes of leadership in as many years…. PACNEWS