Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs) in the coalition alliance and party representatives at their caucus meeting Thursday reconfirmed their numbers before the First Sitting of Parliament.
The coalition-appointed taskforce overseeing negotiations to maintain support ahead of the first sitting met and remained solid in their numbers.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by party presidents—MP Ralph Regenvanu from Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP), MP Johnny Koanapo from Vanua’aku Pati (VP), Marc Ati from Iauko Group (IG), and Charlot Salwai from Reunification Movement for Change (RMC)—stipulates that each political party must appoint two members to be part of a taskforce responsible for maintaining support and reporting back to party leaders.
Political parties in the coalition are reinforcing their unity ahead of the first sitting of parliament.
Caretaker Minister of Lands, Rick Tchamako Mahe, who represents RMC, told the Vanuatu Daily Post that their meeting at the Ministry of Internal Affairs yesterday confirmed that the coalition parties remain firm in their solidarity.
“During our meeting, we finalised the agreement, and all-party representatives are happy with it,” Mahe said.
The coalition has yet to finalise key decisions, such as the ministerial lineup and the selection of the next prime minister. This is common in coalition governments, where discussions often continue until the last minute to ensure all parties are satisfied with their positions.
Caretaker Minister Mahe said that while the coalition remains united, negotiations are ongoing regarding leadership roles.
The finalisation of these details, particularly the prime minister’s position, will be crucial in ensuring the coalition’s stability and effective functioning when parliament convenes.
With the first sitting of parliament scheduled for Tuesday, the coalition aims to resolve these matters beforehand.
