Vanuatu Prime Minister Survives No Confidence Motion

Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau has narrowly survived a no-confidence motion, with the opposition falling one vote short of the 27 needed to unseat him.

This follows criticism of his Government for signing a security pact with Australia.

Vanuatu, was plunged into political crisis after opposition leader Bob Loughman lodged the no-confidence petition, which also criticised the Government for raising the minimum wage.

The no-confidence motion won 26 votes, compared to 23 votes against, but failed to win the absolute majority of 27 needed to remove a Prime Minister in the 52-seat Parliament.

One seat is vacant and one Lawmaker did not attend the session due to illness.

In Parliament on Wednesday, Kalsakau said the allegations against him were baseless, and more international leaders had visited in the past eight months than in two years of Loughman’s government.

China has been a major infrastructure lender to Vanuatu, donating the Parliament building, stadiums and the Prime minister’s office, as well as constructing roads and wharves.

The United States and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific Islands nations from establishing security ties with Beijing, after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.

REUTERS