Opposition bloc vows to challenge dissolution of parliament

Former Opposition members in Vanuatu are expected to file court documents challenging President Baldwin Lonsdale’s decision to dissolve parliament later today or tomorrow.

This decision was confirmed by former lands minister, Ralph Regenvanu, at parliament house following long hours of meeting between lawyers and their clients.

Regenvanu said certain issues still needed to be ironed out and an application would be filed as early as this afternoon or Friday.

It is believed the court challenge will be directed at the legality of the process that led to the dissolution.

On Tuesday, afternoon, Vanuatu’s Head of State President Baldwin Lonsdale took the opposition by surprise when he unilaterally used his prerogative power to dissolve the 10th legislature of the Republic of Vanuatu giving reasons of “being unable to resolve the political crises by government and opposition.

Meanwhile, the initial constitutional application filed by the opposition that sought the assistance of the court to direct deputy speaker to summon parliament, which is scheduled to go before a court conference at 2pm yesterday was postponed at the request of the opposition.

The application also addressed the infringement of the constitutional right of the newly elected MP, Kenneth Natapei, who was never sworn in as an MP.

Regenvanu said the applicants would prefer the second court challenging the dissolution to be heard prior to the first application on the calling of parliament.

     

Author: 
Harold Obed