Vanuatu's prime minister 'retains post despite error'
08/12/2009
Vanuatu's prime minister Edward Natapei has been allowed to keep his post after an administrative error last week that saw him officially ousted.
Mr Natapei was attending a summit in Trinidad and Tobago, but missed three sessions consecutively due to engagements elsewhere.
His office failed to notify the parliamentary speaker of this and, according to regulations, he was declared to have lost his position as the country's prime minister.
However, good news was delivered to the politician this week, reports AFP, as Vanuatu's courts have allowed him to be reinstated.
According to the news provider, the supreme court chief justice Vincent Lunabek overturned the speaker's decision.
"He's taken back his seat in parliament," the agency quotes an official in Mr Natapei's office as stating.
The prime minister was elected into office on 22 September 2008 after winning 27 of the 52 votes in parliament.
Written by Clare Devlin
