19 May 2011

Vanuatu's PM considers asking Head of State to dissolve parliament

6:06 am on 19 May 2011

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Sato Kilman has indicated he is considering requesting the Head of State to dissolve parliament for the country to return to the polls.

This comes as the opposition has lodged another motion of no confidence against Mr Kilman's government, to be debated tomorrow.

Last Friday a court of appeal decision reinstated Mr Kilman as the country's leader.

The court overturned a Supreme Court ruling last month that the decision of the speaker on April the 24th to declare a motion to topple Mr Kilman as prime minster was constitutional and effective.

Before that motion Mr Kilman had asked the President to dissolve parliament but was turned down.

The Daily Post Newspaper reports the Prime Minister as saying that it cost the country over 30 million vatu in legal fees alone for the Government to win the case and that continued motions of no-confidence are also costly.

Mr Kilman says the best way out of the political crisis is to return to the polls.