Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei, is to be recalled from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago, after the parliament speaker declared his seat vacant.
The Speaker, Maxime Carlot Korman, who is set to be dumped from the post next week, has ruled that Natapei lost his seat for missing three consecutive parliamentary meetings and failing to notify the Speaker's Office of his absence, Radio New Zealand International reported on Friday.
Vanuatu's Attorney General's Office has indicated Korman's ruling was in line with the rules of Parliament.
An official in Natapei's office said the prime minister is being recalled from the CHOGM meeting.
He said the Prime Minister's Office had submitted an explanation for Natapei's absence, but this was too late and had also been signed by a
secretary when the rules require the Member of Parliament concerned to have it signed.
It is the first time in Vanuatu history that a speaker has sanctioned a Prime Minister in this manner.
The election of a new prime minister could occur as early as next week when an ordinary session of parliament begins.