Vanuatu president dissolves parliament

The state broadcaster VBTC reported that Vanuatu s president dissolved his parliament on Thursday after an attempt by some politicians to oust the prime minister.

The PM, Bob Loughman, had been expected to face a no-confidence motion when parliament sat after a group of lawmakers said they had sided with the opposition in a bid to remove him.

A notice dissolving parliament was signed by Vanuatu s president, Nikenike Vurobaravu, on Thursday to take effect the same day, a copy of the notice showed.

Vanuatu was not due to go to the polls until 2024.

In recent months, discontent was caused by a failed attempt by Loughman to change the constitution to extend election cycles from four to five years.

The dissolution would be challenged in court, and a majority of parliament members were in support of the bid to remove Loughman, with Regenavu saying he had the support of 29 of 51 lawmakers.

He said Loughman and his supporters had boycotted parliament on Tuesday to avoid the no-confidence vote.

Loughman told VBTC he was the caretaker prime minister and welcomed the decision of the president. Loughman's office could not be reached immediately by Reuters.

The Pacific has become a focus of the intensifying geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States, with China trying to increase its security and trade presence.