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The Speaker of the Parliament of Vanuatu Esmon Saimon changed his mind this afternoon and removed the motion of no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas.
“The current motion was received on 23rd of November and I made a declaration that the motion was in order and will be debated today 30th when the motion becomes mature”, Mr Saimon said.
However, he added that after closer consideration, the Standing Orders clearly state that only the Prime Minister or majority of members could call for an extra ordinary session. In this case, the motion was lodged by the Opposition but it failed to meet the requirement of the Standing Orders (rules of parliament).
The motion was not accompanied by a separate notice to call for an extra ordinary session to debate the motion.
The Speaker then asked signatories of the motion to indicate if any of them are withdrawing and that he would allow only three to speak on behalf of the 8 who have written letters to withdraw their support.
Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) newly appointed Minister for Health, Jerome Ludvaune told Parliament he is withdrawing his signature because he was in his constituency.
Ludvaune said upon his return from the island, he signed the document not know he was signing a motion of no-confidence.
Epi’s UMP newly appointed Minister for Sports Seule Simeon also indicated he was elected to stay with the government and was withdrawing his signature.
MP for Malekula, Marcellino Barthelemy also withdrew his signature on the floor.
The decision of the Speaker was met with strong opposition from the opposite side of the chamber.
Former leader of government business and MP for Paama, Tasso Fred, who remained with the Opposition, could not believe the MPs reasoning for the withdrawal. “Parliament should be told the truth”, he said with his figure pointing to his colleagues who signed the motion with him.
MP Fred Tasso said those who signed the motion knew what they were doing and must tell the truth.
Greens Party MP for Port Vila, Seule Kalo who recently left the government side, says those who signed and then withdrew will only “look shame in the eyes of their voters”.
MP for Efate, Joshua Kalsakau said he had evidence via text messages to confirm that those MPs who were withdrawing their support, had intentions to sign the motion to oust PM Salwai from his leadership.
Leader of Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau revealed that the initiator of the motion was the Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s party, MP Barthelemy, who at the time was announcing his withdrawal.
“A decision was already made by you, Speaker, and we are here to debate the motion”, the Opposition Leader reasoned.
Mr Kalsakau described the Speaker’s decision as “cart pulling the horse”, and says the matter now is an issue that is likely to be challenged in court.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Lengkon says the issue is about the process, which the Opposition did not comply with.
Mr Lengkon says Opposition leaders are well aware of the process that needs two separate documents, one is the motion and the second is the calling of Parliament.
The Second Extra ordinary Session was then closed by the Speaker.