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Vanuatu's parliament dissolved

Xinhua, November 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Vanuatu's President Baldwin Lonsdale dissolved the Pacific island nation's unicameral parliament on Tuesday, more than one month after sentencings were made against members of parliament, including Deputy Prime Minister Moana Carcasses and Parliament Speaker Marcellino Pipite, who were convicted of bribery.

Lonsdale has decided to exercise his power to dissolve the parliament, according to local newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post.

In the past two weeks, the government and the opposition were trying to settle a political impasse following the jailing of 14 government MPs convicted of bribery.

Lonsdale said enough time has been given to both sides and his decision to dissolve the parliament is in the best interests of the country.

On Oct. 22, Carcasses, Pipite and other 12 MPs got prison terms ranging from three years to four years. Another MP, the only one pleading guilty to the bribery charges, was given a 20 months jail term suspended for two years.

The court had convicted the 15 MPs for giving or accepting bribes from the opposition to support a vote of no confidence that toppled then Prime Minister Joe Natuman. Carcasses was the then opposition leader.

Earlier this month, Vanuatu's Court of Appeal dismissed the MPs' appeal against their conviction for bribery.

A snap parliament election is expected to be held within the next three months. Enditem