Opposition leader Maxime Carlot Korman said the motion was to highlight what he called “dishonest behavior” of Prime Minster Edward Natapei’s camp that forced MPs to stay on their side.
Also that very recently, disgruntled MPs on the government side had moved to the opposition leaving the government in the minority.
Korman told Parliament his group had the numbers to oust the Natapei government at the time the motion was filed with the speaker’s office.
He accused the UMP leader, Serge Vohor, of breaching the trust that cemented the original opposition bloc when he led his seven members to cross the floor on Tuesday.
In defense, Natapei said the motion was unwarranted because his government was only formed recently.
He also brushed aside allegation that he influenced members from the opposition camp to join his group in forming the new government.
Natapei said it was clear during his election as Prime minister that he did not “kidnap” members as claimed by the opposition to win numbers to his side.
“Members of the electoral commission and judiciary were present to witness the smooth conduct of his election inside Parliament chamber,” he said.
Vohor, for his part, clarified that he was not enticed by any member of the government side to join their ranks.
He said UMP’s decision was made for the sole purpose of “stability” and was in the interest of the population of Vanuatu.
A government backbencher, MP Harry Iauko, used the last three minutes allocated to the government side to call on all members of Parliament to practice the true meaning of articles of the national constitution.
He said provisions of the constitution should be interpreted and used for its purpose and should not be used as a tool to gain a political favor.
The newly elected VP member was referring to remarks made by the deputy leader of the opposition, Sato Kilman, who said that the opposition was using its rights under the constitution, to file the motion against Natapei, only few days after the formation of the new coalition government.
Former Health Minister Mokin Stevens was seen in the chamber sitting on the opposition side.
The motion was the only agenda for this year’s first extraordinary session.
