Vanuatu's prime minister expels 2 government parties
19/11/2009
Vanuatu's prime minister has expelled two coalition parties from the government this week as he was not satisfied with the level of support they were offering.
Edward Natapei instigated a major re-shuffle as a result of the move, banishing the National United Party (NUP) and the Vanuatu Republican Party (VRP) from authority.
Among the individuals who have now been dismissed from their posts are the country's deputy prime minister, Ham Lini, leader of NUP and the Speaker of Parliament, and head of VRP Maxime Carlot Korman.
Australia Network News quotes independent member of parliament Ralph Regenvanu as saying: "The whole opposition is brought in to replace the NUP, the VRP and the Nagrimel Party, who are now being pushed off."
In other government news, it was revealed in June 2009 that Vanuatu's former prime minister Maxime Carlot Korman had been elected as the country's new speaker.
Written by Simon Bassett
