By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau faces a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday, after the opposition accused his government of abandoning a non-aligned foreign policy by signing a security pact with Australia.
Vanuatu, at the centre of a strategic rivalry between China and Western countries in the Pacific Islands, was plunged into political crisis after opposition leader Bob Loughman lodged the no-confidence petition, which also criticised the government for raising the minimum wage.
The petition, lodged a fortnight ago, was signed by 29 lawmakers, enough to topple the prime minister.
Loughman drew Vanuatu closer to China as the previous prime minister. His government lost a snap national election in 2022.
In addition to domestic issues, he has criticised the security pact with Australia, saying it compromises Vanuatu’s “neutral” status and could risk development assistance from other partners.
Kalsakau has said the constitution requires an absolute majority for the removal of a prime minister. Debate on the motion was delayed last week after fewer than 27 opposition lawmakers attended parliament, and the government said this fell short of the quorum needed for a vote.
There are 52 seats in parliament, although two are vacant, and 27 votes are needed to win the no-confidence motion.
Kalsakau said at a press conference on Tuesday his government would set up a capital development fund to build roads and buy new aircraft in an effort to boost an economy reliant on tourism.
China has been a major infrastructure lender to Vanuatu, donating the parliament building, stadiums and the prime minister’s office, as well as constructing roads and wharves.
The United States and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific Islands nations from establishing security ties with Beijing, after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.
Kalsakau has reshuffled his cabinet in an effort to win support ahead of the vote, with the new deputy prime minister making a show of support for China.
At a ceremony to welcome the Chinese navy’s medical ship Peace Ark last week, Deputy Prime Minister Matai Seremaiah said that “health and security ties are an important part of our bilateral relations”, according to a post on the prime minister’s Facebook page.
Tourism and Trade Minister Samson Samsen resigned to join the opposition block on Monday.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; editing by Miral Fahmy)
