The president, who unseated Note in January last year, was in Japan when the motion was filed, and was expected to return tonight to the Marshall Islands.
The vote must be held sometime next week in accordance with the country’s Constitution that specifies a five-to-10-day window for a vote following introduction of a no confidence motion.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two senators who had backed Tomeing in an April no confidence vote say they support this latest move to remove the president, suggesting Tomeing’s slim three-vote majority in the 33-seat parliament is weakening. While MPs in different parties were tight lipped about candidates for the presidency should the vote succeed, former President Imata Kabua said in an interview Wednesday he understands Note and former Cabinet Minister Christopher Loeak are both in the running.
Although this is the third no confidence vote against Tomeing since last October, and a court order was issued in April clarifying the procedure for the vote, there was confusion on the floor of parliament about procedures to handle the vote.
On Wednesday one hour into the parliament’s regular agenda, Speaker Jurelang Zedkaia officially informed Nitijela, the parliament, that a notice for a motion for a vote of no confidence against the cabinet was before the parliament.
He said the clock for the vote started ticking from Thursday Oct. 14 with the fifth day falling on Tuesday and the 10th day falling on Sunday.
“Therefore after church you all have to return to Nitijela,” he said.
Jaluit Sen. Alvin Jacklick quoted the Constitution, saying that if the 10th day falls on a Sunday or holiday, then the vote will proceed the next day. Zedkaia responded that he was confused between the Constitution and the Nitijela rules of procedure.
Vice Speaker Alik Alik reminded the speaker that there was a ruling from the High Court that clarified how to count days. All seven days of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, are included in the calculation of “five-to-10-days,” the High Court ruled in April to resolve confusion during an earlier vote of no confidence.
After a short break, Deputy Clerk Lena Tiobech read the two letters related to the motion for the no confidence move. The first was to notify Nitijela that there was a motion for a vote against the cabinet signed by Senators Note, Kaiboke Kabua, Rellong Lemari and Fredrick Muller. The second letter requested that voting be done by secret ballot.
Putting up the motion “is difficult but it is our duty to do what is right for the government and people of the Marshall Islands,” said Note.
Note said the reasons behind the no confidence move would be provided in the days to come.
