Vanuatu's president appears to be relenting to pressure as he looks set to pardon 14 former MPs who were jailed for corruption in 2016.
Vanuatu president Tallis Obed Moses Photo: Dan McGarry
President Moses Obed Tallis has said he plans to pardon the men, who were convicted as part of a bribery scheme to topple the then-government.
The news director of the Vanuatu Daily Post, Dan McGarry, said the decision will be disappointing to many.
He said the president had been under intense pressure from supporters of the former MPs.
"He has, pretty much from the day he took office, been under pressure from people who want to see the convicted politicians, who were convicted as a result of their involvement in a bribery trial, they want to see them back in time to contest in the 2020 elections," said Dan McGarry.
Moana Carcasses outside court in Port Vila following his conviction Photo: RNZI / Hilaire Bule