Graon mo Jastis Party

The party's leader Ralph Regenvanu has confirmed this is in response to a request by a fellow government coalition party, the Vanua'aku Pati.

A by-election is to be held next month after the Vanua'aku Pati's President Joe Natuman lost his parliament seat.

Mr Natuman was earlier found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice and given a suspended two-year sentence.

His party intends to stand a candidate who could hold the seat until the next general election in 2020 when Mr Natuman hopes to return.

Uri Warawara of the Graon mo Jastis Party won the recent by-election for the Malo Aore seat vacated when Havo Moli died in February.

Mr Warawara's victory gives the GJP eight MPs in the 52-seat parliament.

According to the Vanuatu parliament's official website, only the Union for Moderates has more MPs with nine.

The extraordinary session is expected to debate up to eleven bills including the Right to Information Act.

There are also amendments to the Penal Code, the Citizenship and Immigration Acts up for debate.

Photo: RNZI/ Walter Zweifel