Port Vila generic - people walking at seafront Photo: RNZ Pacific / Kelvin Anthony
The President of Vanuatu is expected to deliver his decision on whether or not to dissolve parliament on Wednesday morning local time.
This comes as a leadership challenge is being moved against Vanuatu's most recently installed Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.
State House has confirmed to RNZ Pacific that the President Nikenike Vurobaravu met with the leaders of Vanuatu's political parties on Tuesday.
He is expected to make a decision on whether or not to dissolve parliament on Wednesday morning.
Prime Minister Salwai had been in power for just over a month before a motion of no confidence in his leadership was deposited with parliament last week.
The prime minister before him, Sato Kilman, was ousted from the role in even less time.
The Council of Ministers has recommended the President Vurobaravu dissolve parliament in light of ongoing political instability.
Last week the Council of Ministers recommended the dissolution in light of chronic political instability in the country.
The current parliament was elected in October last year through a snap election triggered by the same mechanism announced this afternoon.
Since the general election in 2020 Vanuatu has seen the rise and fall of four prime ministers.
Snap election
If the parliament is dissolved, a date for a snap election will have to be set.
According to section 28(4) of Vanuatu's constitution, general elections shall be held not earlier than 30 days and not later than 60 days after any dissolution.
Based on these parameters, the earliest a snap election could be held is before Christmas and the latest could mid-to-late January 2024.
A prime ministerial timeline of events
- April 2020 - Bob Loughman elected prime minister after the National election.
- August 2022 - President Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolves parliament.
- November 2022 - Ishmael Kalsakau elected prime minister after a snap election triggered by the dissolution of parliament.
- September 2023 - Sato Kilman is elected prime minister after court rules motion of no confidence against Ishmael Kalsakau was successful.
- October 2023 - Charlot Salwai is elected prime minister after a successful motion of no confidence against Sato Kilman.
- November 2023 - Council of Ministers requests President to dissolve parliament.