8 Sep 2023

New Vanuatu govt plans to remove parliament speaker

10:58 am on 8 September 2023
This photo taken on June 22, 2023 shows a general view Vanuatu's parliament in Port Vila. Arab oil states are using their vast wealth to build influence across the far-flung South Pacific, experts have told AFP, tearing a page straight out of China's "Belt and Road" playbook. One of the most conspicuous examples sits smack in the middle of Vanuatu's leafy capital Port Vila, where a UAE-funded solar farm keeps the lights on inside the country's parliament. (Photo by Ben BOHANE / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY: Vanuatu-Pacific-climate-environment-diplomacy, FOCUS by Steven TRASK

Photo: BEN BOHANE

The 27 MPs in the Vanuatu parliament who belong to the new coalition government of Prime Minister Sato Kilman have submitted a motion to remove the current Speaker, Seoule Simeon.

They have called for a parliamentary session next Tuesday to deal with the motion.

The Speaker's office has confirmed that it has received the motion.

This marks the second attempt to replace Simeon as Speaker.

The first endeavour took place during the extraordinary session last month which led to the motion of no confidence that removed Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau as the country's leader, but the motion opposing Simeon never got scheduled for debate.

The potential candidate for speaker, from the government side, has held the post before, Gracia Shadrach.

Last week, Kilman was elected as the new prime minister ousting Kalsakau by 27 votes to 23 that ended weeks of political impasse.

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