Get Guardian on Google
Vanuatu’s former prime minister, Charlot Salwai, returned to power on Friday, taking over from his predecessor, who lost a vote of no confidence after just one month in office.
[ad]
Salwai, a 60-year-old former accountant who has been in politics for more than three decades, had previously led the Pacific island’s government for four years until April 2020.
Salwai was “duly elected unopposed as prime minister of the republic of Vanuatu,” the parliament’s speaker said following a swearing-in ceremony carried live on the parliament’s Facebook channel.
Lawmakers from the former government boycotted the vote after losing a majority when one of their MPs reportedly lost his seat for missing three straight sessions of parliament.
A no-confidence motion was earlier passed unopposed against outgoing prime minister Sato Kilman, who had only taken office in early September, vowing to review a security pact with Australia.
[ad]
Salwai was convicted of perjury in 2020 but pardoned by the president the following year, allowing him to run for public office, according to Radio New Zealand.
It was not clear how his return to the top job would affect relations with China, which is sparring with the United States and its allies for influence in Vanuatu and other South Pacific island states.
[ad]
