Vanuatu MP publicly accuses opposition of forgery

A Vanuatu MP is accusing the opposition group of forging his signature on multiple documents which claim his support for their motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

A special session of parliament will be called today to hear the motion with the opposition claiming to have the support of 30 of the 52 MPs in parliament.

This is despite several government MPs, whose names appear on the motion, claiming their signatures have been forged.

The MP for Malo/Aore constituency, Uri Warawara, has presented copies of his signature and passport to the Vanuatu Daily Post as proof that they are different from the marks on the motion documents.

The motion will be going ahead today thanks to a Supreme Court ruling last week which overturned an earlier decision by the speaker of parliament declaring the motion not in order.

Several government MPs had written to the speaker to complain about forged signatures.

Despite opposition claims of majority support, the Vanuatu government has had more than 30 MPs seated on their side of the 52-seat house during sittings last week.