A group of former Vanuatu opposition MPs says it intends to legally challenge the president's decision to dissolve parliament.
President Baldwin Lonsdale says his actions yesterday afternoon came after careful consideration based on the failure of both sides to resolve the political impasse which arose after the jailing of 14 government MPs convicted of bribery last month.
An expert on Melanesian affairs and founder of the Devpolicy Thinknet, Tess Newton Cain, says if the legal challenge does go ahead it will not be the first time that the limits of presidential powers have been questioned in Vanuatu.
"In the 1980s the president was imprisoned for dissolving parliament without taking the advice and consideration of the prime minister and the council of ministers. My understanding is that that doesn't apply, that this was done in consultation with government as it currently stands. So obviously the opposition may feel that there is a case to answer and that will be a matter for the court."
President Lonsdale has announced that snap elections will be held in Vanuatu.
However, a date will be confirmed later.