The Speaker of Parliament of Vanuatu Gracia Shadrack has resigned amid a dispute with the government of the prime minister Bob Loughman.
Last week, Shadrack declared the seats of the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and 16 other government MPs vacant for missing three sittings of parliament.
The government challenged the move and a hearing of its constitutional application was due today seeking his removal.
However, the hearing was cancelled after an agreement of the lawyers for both parties following the resignation of the speaker.
Gracia Shadrack is sworn in as the speaker of the Vanuatu parliament. 18 April 2020 Photo: VBTC Livestream
PM appeals for calm
Last week, Prime Minister Bob Loughman called on the people of Vanuatu to remain calm.
Loughman repeated what he said after the parliament session on June 8, that the court alone can remove a sitting member of parliament from their chair but the Speaker of Parliament cannot do that alone in his capacity.
"We want to see democracy prevail in our country.
We must not take the law into our own hands and we have to remain calm and listen to what the court says," he said.
Speaker Gracia Shadrack resignation letter Photo: RNZ Hilaire Bule