no confidence motion

Yesterday, the speaker ruled the motion was in order, opening the floor for the challenge.

The motion carries the signatures of nine opposition MPs, listing eight acts they say have allowed the prime minister's office to be called into question.

It says proposed constitutional amendments have been poorly considered and consulted.

It says the government's endorsement of income tax and the PACER Plus trade agreement were also poorly consulted and threaten the livelihoods of ni-Vanuatu and the wider economy.

Yesterday, the speaker ruled the motion was in order, opening the floor for the challenge.

The motion carries the signatures of nine opposition MPs, listing eight acts they say have allowed the prime minister's office to be called into question.

It says proposed constitutional amendments have been poorly considered and consulted.

It says the government's endorsement of income tax and the PACER Plus trade agreement were also poorly consulted and threaten the livelihoods of ni-Vanuatu and the wider economy.

The opposition has listed six reasons for the motion, including concerns over corruption, ministerial "incompetence", decentralisation and tax.

The list also includes "tolerance of outstanding revenue totalling over Vt4 billion ($US36.1 million)" and the signing of the PACER Plus trade agreement.

The opposition bloc said it was concerned at the failure of the government to implement a decentralisation policy which was supported by a majority of MPs and at the proposed introduction of income tax.

The motion was triggered by a series of defections from Mr Sogavare's coalition government late last month.

Beginning the debate, opposition MP Derek Sikua outlined to parliament his reasons for tabling the motion.

Dr Sikua said MPs had lost confidence in the prime minister because he wasn't listening to them any more.

He said Mr Sogavare has become suspicious of anyone who differs from his point of view.

The vote was triggered after a series of defections from Mr Sogavare's coalition, which has been in power since 2014.

It is not clear what has caused the defections, but some government supporters suggest it's in response to a proposed anti-corruption bill.

The opposition leader, Derek Sikua, is expected to spell out his reasons for the motion in parliament today.

The government and opposition have spent the past week battling to consolidate their numbers ahead of today's vote.

The broadcaster SIBC reports the Speaker of Parliament Ajilon Jasper Nasiu has received the motion from the Leader of the Parliamentary Independent Group Dr Derek Sikua.

No explanation has been given for the motion of no confidence, but Dr Sikua is expected to state his reasons for not having confidence in the Prime Minister when he moves the motion.

RNZ reports one motion was withdrawn and another ruled invalid due to their lack of support in the 52-seat parliament.

Proposed constitutional amendments would change the rules for filing no confidence motions that have defeated five Vanuatu prime ministers over the last 20 years.

However, the analyst Dr Tess Newton-Cain said the two failed motions represented valid concerns of backbench MPs.

RNZ reports the opposition deposited the motion with the Speaker a week ago.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister, Hilaire Bule, says they have been assured that the 34 government members continue to back Mr Salwai.

If that is the case the opposition would have the support of just 18 MPs, but would need 27 to effect a change of government.

This is the second attempt in a matter of weeks to try and remove Mr Salwai whose government is promising constitutional reforms to try and limit the de-stabilising effects of no confidence motions.

 The opposition submitted the motion against the government of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, bearing the signatures of 31 MPs to the Speaker of Parliament yesterday.

But Deputy Prime Minister Joe Natuman said the government has managed to win back the support of several MPs, and he is confident the government will survive the vote next Wednesday.

He said he went to elections in January promising to bring reforms to create stability in Vanuatu politics, and yesterday's motion is an example of why reform is needed.

When confirming the depositing of the motion yesterday, Speaker Saimon also confirmed six of the signatories have written separate letters to withdraw their support from the document.

However, he made it clear the motion will still go before Parliament to debate on Wednesday next week because the withdrawal letters came after he had announced his decision to put the motion in order for debate.

On Tuesday, the Government side was struggling and loosing numbers to the opposition.