NEWS
Parliament stalemate
The Parliament has been in a stalemate since March 2010. On 20 March 2010, with Parliament in a stalemate of 9 members on the government side and 9 members in the opposition, President Marcus Stephen called a general election two years into the three year parliamentary term.
At the General Election for members of the 19th Parliament held on 24th April 2010, the same 18 members were returned, and the stalemate continued. The 19th Parliament sat 14 times over 6 weeks, but was unable to break the deadlock.
On 11 June 2010 President Marcus Stephen declared a state of emergency and dissolved the 19th Parliament. General Elections were held on 19 June. One opposition MP, Mr Dantes Tsitsi, lost his seat, and was replaced by new member Hon Milton Dube. All of the other 17 members were returned.
At the first sitting of The 20th Parliament on 22 June, two nominations for Speaker were put forward but both were declined. With the consent of the members the Chairman (Clerk) suspended the sitting. The sitting did not resume until Wednesday 30 June. Hon Aloysisus Amwano was elected (unopposed) as Speaker on Wednesday 30 June, but Parliament did not progress to the election of a President or the consideration of supply. On the evening of Wednesday 30 June, President Marcus Stephen obtained supply via emergency order.
Parliament sat again on Friday 2 July and Tuesday 6 July, but again did not progress to the election of a President, as the Speaker, after making statements from the chair, suspended the sitting without disposing of the business on the notice paper.
The state of emergency that was declared on 11 June lapsed on Friday 2 July (after 21 days), but the President declared another emergency on Friday evening, for the purpose of keeping the supply order in force until Parliament is able to consider an appropriation law. Because Parliament was still 'sitting' on Friday evening (having been suspended rather than adjourned), the state of emergency declared on 2 July will lapse after 7 days, rather than 21 (see Article 77 of the Constitution).
Due to the stalemate caused by even numbers on both sides, neither the 19th nor 20th Parliaments have been able to progress to the election of a President. The Stpehen government, which was formed at the beginning of the 18th Parliament, continues as caretaker government until the election of a new President (see Articles 16 and 20 of the Constitution).
For more information, see:
Media release from the Government Information Office, 23 June 2010 (caretaker government)
Media release from the Government Information Office, 24 June 2010 (no plans for election)
(updated 6 July 2010)