PORT VILA (Pacnews) — Despite winning more seats in the Vanuatu election, the Union of Moderate Parties has given the post of prime minister to the leader of the Vanua’aku Party, Edward Natapei.
Both the UMP and the Vanua’aku Party have signed an agreement to form a coalition to govern the country.
Even though they have agreed on paper that whichever party gets more will get the prime ministership, UMP in a change of heart, gave Natapei the country’s top job.
National broadcaster VBTC said the coalition partners had agreed that UMP leader Serge Vohor will maintain his deputy prime minister job and the six Cabinet portfolios including the speaker of the Parliament. The six Cabinet portfolios are trade, foreign affairs, public utilities, education, agriculture, and youth and sports.
Natapei’s Vanua’aku Party will hold the key ministries of finance, internal affairs, health, comprehensive reform program, health and Ni-Vanuatu business.
The ruling coalition now has 33 members, one short of the absolute two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Vanuatu’s new Parliament will sit on June 3 to elect a new speaker and prime minister.
Meanwhile, a former Vanuatu prime minister has accused the Electoral Commission of committing fraud.
