15 Nov 2019

Kiribati Opposition demands Parliament reopen

From , 6:04 am on 15 November 2019

Opposition MPs in Kiribati are demanding the speaker of Parliament call a special session after he abruptly closed the House on Thursday.

The speaker, Tebuai Uaai, claimed there was no more business to hear and declared the last Parliament session of the year over.

But the Opposition, which held a majority in the House, claims the government has been avoiding a motion of no confidence against the president.

That comes after the High Court ruled on Monday that Mr Uaai's rejection of a motion last month was illegal and that he must let it go ahead in Parliament.

Mackenzie Smith asked the leader of the Opposition, Kiribati Moa, or Kiribati First Party, Banuera Berina, what will happen next.

Parliament House in Kiribati

Parliament House in Kiribati Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta