Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei Loses Job: No Absence Notes

by Amy Judd | November 28, 2009 at 09:10 am

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The Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei loses his job due to the fact that he didn't hand in any absence notes after being away.

Vanuatu laws state that any member of parliament must provide a note for reasons for absenses if they miss three consecutive sittings of parliament or more. The Prime Minister failed to do that and so has now lost his seat.

He was away on official business for the country, but somehow his office overlooked the fact that he hadn't provided a signed note, and now Vanuatu is in a political crisis with no Prime Minister.

The parliament hopes to hold elections next week to elect a new Prime Minister, and Vanuatu will have a caretake government until that time.

Natapei's cabinet hurriedly convened emergency talks, while Natapei himself was reported to be rushing back to Vanuatu from a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad and Tobago.