November 29th, 2009.

One visiting leader loses his seat in Parliament due to his attending the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting.

A report in today’s Express says the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Edward Natapei is being said to have forfeited his seat in the Parliament of the Pacific Island after failing to attend three consecutive meetings without notifying the speaker.

It says that Mr. Natapei missed the extraordinary sessions of Parliament to debate the Budget because of his trip to this country to attend CHOGM.

Mr. Natapei arrived in this country on Thursday.

It is reported that on the opening day of the summit the speaker of Vanuatu’s Parliament Maxime Carlot Korman told MP’s they will need to elect a new Prime Minister this week.

The speaker reportedly said a By Election will also have to be held to fill the vacancy in Mr. Natapei’s Constituency of Port Vila.