Vanuatu Opposition Leader Bob Loughman Thursday said they still have enough numbers to oust the Prime Minister and form the next government.
The Speaker of Parliament adjourned the no confidence session to Wednesday next week because there was no quorum. The Opposition side turned up with 25 members while the government boycotted the session.
Previously, the Opposition Bloc claimed it has 29 MPs. Those 25 who turned up for the session does not meet the required number to topple the government.
Loughman said the government has seen it fit not to attend the session despite claiming majority of the Members of Parliament (MP).
Prior to Thursday’s session, the Leader of Opposition challenged the PM to step down if he realised he no longer has the support and to attend and that if he commands the majority he should show it in parliament.
“Even though they claimed to command majority they did not make it to parliament,” he said.
Loughman stressed that one of the duties of the MPs is to attend sessions of parliament.
He called on the public to remain calm and also urged for responsible reporting on social media. He said social media users should report on issues focussing on development instead of discrediting others.
He said they are performing their constitutional roles as MPs with the motion.
Prime Ishmael Kalsakau said Thursday with Presidents of political parties in government that they decided not to boycott the session to demonstrate that Loughman had no simple majority.
Kalsakau said he is confident he will defeat the motion.
President of the Ground and Justice Party (GJP), Ralph Regenvanu rejected Loughman’s call for a session to debate the motion without having the required numbers.
Regenvanu said that during his reign as an Opposition Leader he has successfully deposited a motion in 2022 which resulted in the Council of Ministers requesting a dissolution.
President of the Reunification Movement of Change and one of the former PM, Charlot Salwai said Vanuatu is now facing a political crisis and is difficult to form a new government.
He appealed to the MPs to make national interest their priority.
President of the Leaders Party, Jotham Napat reminded all members of parliament that Kalsakau was elected unopposed and why suddenly after just eight months the opposition wants a new government to be elected.
Deputy PM and Foreign Affairs Minister, Matai Seremaiah during the press conference labelled the minimum wage increase which is one of the arguments of the motion as baseless.
Matai said the Opposition MPs are against the increase of salaries of workers who elected them but want an increase of their allowances to VT15 million(US$124,502).
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the political impasse will be solved before the parliament session next week.
SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST/PACNEWS
