Vanuatu delays
presidential poll
A VANUATU electoral college last month failed for a second time to elect a new president. Eight candidates con tested the February 16 election but none got the required two-thirds majority of an electoral college comprising 46 MPs and 10 local government presidents.
The college will meet again on March 2 for another attempt to choose a head of state to succeed Frederick Timakata whose term expired on Jannuary 31.
Speaker of parliament Alfred Masseng will continue as head of state until a new president is elected. The inconclusive voting on Feb 16 followed an abortive election on Feb 14 which was boycotted by opposition politicians unhappy that they were given no official notice of it.
With a quorum not present, the
election was postponed.