president

Fate of President Baldwin hinges on outcome of court ruling

Former opposition MPs have not only been preparing for the election but are also looking at what next.

While they are keeping their fingers crossed for the outcome of the constitutional court decision on the dissolution of parliament, discussions also overshadow how they would help, as they termed, “restore the integrity of the president’s office”, if the court decision falls in their favor.

Vanuatu president quashes latest pardon talk

The president had earlier said he would not consider any pardons until after the MPs had finished their appeal process.

That happened on Monday and our correspondent reports that there are stories circulating in Port Vila that Fr Lonsdale is planning a pardon.

The chairman of the Port Vila Town Council of Chiefs and a member of the chiefs body, the Malfatumauri, Chief Isaac Worwor, says they met with the president and have been reassured.

President Baldwin dissolves Vanuatu parliament

     

At about 4pm today, President Baldwin 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.

Vanuatu President urged not to dissolve Parliament

Joe Natuman and the Prime Minister Sato Kilman have been meeting all weekend to try and resolve the impasse, which began after 14 government MPs were last month jailed for bribery.

On Friday, the country's highest court rejected their appeals, which means the 14 are now no longer MPs.

Kilman has rejected the opposition's proposal to form a government of national unity, instead saying he'd rather the President Baldwin Lonsdale dissolve parliament, which he threatened to do if an agreement was not reached by Sunday.

Fiji Parliament to elect new President today

As per requirement under the 2013 constitution, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has nominated former military officer and current cabinet minister Jioji Konrote for the position, where as the opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has nominated Taveuni chief and former military commander Ratu Epeli Ganilau.

The constitution requires the President has had a distinguished career in any aspect of national or international life, whether in the public or private sector.

Ganilau nominated as Fiji presidential candidate

Parliament will hold a special sitting on Monday to elect the new president.

The opposition's leader Ro Teimumu Kepa says it has tried to follow a process to depoliticise the nomination.

Ro Teimumu says her SODELPA Party chose him after discussions with chiefs as opposed to a process of numbers and voting by politicians.

Ratu Epeli was the defence minister in the post-coup regime of Frank Bainimarama following an unsuccessful bid as leader of the National Alliance to win a seat in the 2006 election.