Parliament seats

Vanuatu Govt given more time for appeal

Last month's declaration, affecting prime minister Bob Loughman and 18 members of his coalition, was challenged in the court where Justice Oliver Saksak deferred to the former speaker's ruling.

However deputy prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau said the government believes the judge misdirected himself with his interpretation of article 54 of the constitution.

Mr Kalsakau said the government argue there's only one institution that has jurisdiction to determine whether or not a member of parliament has vacated their seat and that is the Supreme Court.

Vanuatu seats re-jigged prior to 2020 election

Martin Tete said the number of seats in the Efate Rural constituency would increase by one to four, while the urban Port Vila constituency drops from six to five.

The Daily Post newspaper reported the move came in response to long-standing calls for increased representation in the rural constituency.

However the changes have been criticised by former prime minister and founder of the Melanesian Progressive Party Barak Sope, who said it was unfair at a time when the population of urban Port Vila was growing fast.