Vanuatu opposition files motion of no confidence

The leader of the opposition in Vanuatu on Thursday filed a motion of no confidence in prime minister Charlot Salwai.

Ishmael Kalsakau says he has secured the support of 22 opposition and 8 government MPs for the motion in the 52 seat parliament.

There have been mulitiple unsuccessful attempts to remove Mr Salwai and last week, amid rumours of an impending vote, he expressed confidence in the backing of 35 MPs.  

But Mr Kalsakau told Koroi Hawkins otherwise.

Mr Kalsakau added that the motion cites 16 reasons for the loss of confidence in Mr Salwai. 

These include the government's increase of Value Added Tax, delays in the rehabilitation of the international airport runway, the handling of the Ambae Volcano disaster, and failure to address the case of convicted former deputy prime minister Joe Natuman.