Vanuatu leader of the Opposition and President of the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Ishmael Kalsakau, welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the Court of Appeal (COA) to dismiss the appeal of Speaker of Parliament Stephen Felix against the Supreme Court judgment delivered last week.
Port Vila Member of Parliament (MP) Kalsakau said the Opposition had anticipated that the COA would uphold the Supreme Court ruling.
“There were numerous cases in the past, and this case was no different. We welcome the Appeal Court’s decision for Parliament to sit on Friday to debate the motion against the Prime Minister (PM),” he said.
On the numbers to support the motion, Kalsakau said the Opposition is quietly confident.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, MP Jay Ngwele, also welcomed the COA ruling, saying that “the law is for everyone.”
Wednesday, the COA dismissed Speaker Felix’s appeal against the Supreme Court’s decision, which ruled that his action on 14 November 2025 to close the Second Ordinary Session of Parliament was unconstitutional.
Justice Olivier Saksak ruled last week that the Speaker had knowledge of the no-confidence motion against PM Napat but, instead of allowing Parliament to debate it, unconstitutionally closed the Second Ordinary Session.
Speaker Felix’s lawyer, Garry Blake, argued that the motion should be handed to the Speaker, not to parliamentary staff.
“Adding words to Article 43(2) is dangerous. Article 43(2) does not specify who delivers the motion to the Speaker,” said Chief Justice (CJ) Vincent Lunabek.
Blake responded that the court’s role is to interpret the Constitution, not to add to it.
The Opposition’s lawyer, Sakiusa Kalsakau, said he agreed with the court that the Speaker had been properly notified of the motion.
“We ask the court not to accept the complainant’s interpretation. What is required is 1/6 of MPs’ signatures on the motion,” he told the COA.
“We ask the court to direct Parliament to meet on Friday at 9am and for the cost of VT150,000 to be paid.”
After more than an hour of arguments, the COA ruled that Speaker Felix’s appeal be dismissed and instructed Parliament to meet tomorrow at 9am to debate the no-confidence motion against PM Napat.
Speaker Felix issued the summons for Parliament to reconvene Friday.
“In accordance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Civil Appeal Case No. 3822 of 2025, delivered on Wednesday 17 December 2025, I hereby give notice to reconvene Parliament in its 2025 Second Ordinary Session commencing on Friday 19 December 2025 at 10:30am,” Speaker Felix instructed.
