1 Sep 2011

Vanuatu speaker challenged by PM over rejected motions

1:33 pm on 1 September 2011

Vanuatu's prime minister Sato Kilman has filed an urgent application challenging a ruling by the speaker, Maxime Carlot Korman, in which he declared a government motion to remove him was out of order.

But Mr Kilman maintains the motion to remove Mr Carlot Korman, who's an opposition MP, is in order and parliament must debate it.

On Tuesday, the speaker ruled the government had violated parliament's standing orders because it had deposited three motions to remove him.

Mr Carlot Korman has ruled standing orders state only one motion can be lodged for the removal of the speaker or the prime minister.

He has adjourned the session until September the 8th to allow the government to redraft its motion.

Mr Kilman is due to attend the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in New Zealand next week but observers say the political instability could affect his participation.

Last week, another parliamentary delay by Mr Carlot Korman forced Mr Kilman to shorten his trip to the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.