Nauru's government and opposition fight for control of parliament
Updated
The Pacific Island Nation of Nauru has been thrown into political crisis, with its government and opposition fighting for control of the country's parliament.
Presenter: Campbell Cooney
Speaker: Nauru Justice Minister Mathew Batsiua
COONEY: Last Tuesday Nauru's parliamentary opposition had the votes it needed for a majority in the 18 member house of parliament, and was poised to vote in support of a no confidence motion, in President Marcus Stephen.
But before the vote could be held, parliament was suspended, and later that day Speaker Riddell Akua stood down. This gave him a vote and deadlocked the house, nine votes per side.
When parliament resumed on Thursday the opposition successfully appointed David Adeang as speaker.
It removed the opposition's majority, but gave it the power to decide when parliament sits.
And on Easter Saturday, with three Nauru Government Ministers in Australia, Speaker Adeang called a sitting.
In a statement Mr Adeang says the meeting was held under difficult circumstances, after, he says, President Stephen refused to authorize security, barred the broadcast and recording of the session, and wouldn't let power be turned on in the house.
Mr Adeang says the meeting went ahead, using candles for light, a generator to power a laptop and printer, and a tape machine to record the session for parliament's records.
But government MP's don't agree it was a proper sitting.
Mathew Batsiua is Nauru's Justice Minister.
BATSIUA: That we heard on Saturday that there was a bit of commotion in parliament, there was going to be a meeting. We were waiting to be advised formally and that advice was never forthcoming.
COONEY: You would not consider that a sitting of parliament?
BATSIUA: Well the opposition on the floor will be eight, anything discussed would be in contradiction to quorum, so we'll be of the opinion that it was not a valid meeting.
COONEY: But David Adeang says during the meeting those present, the country's opposition MP's, passed the amended Nauru Citizenship Act.
That act says any MP with dual citizenship, will have their parliamentary powers, privileges and immunities governed by parliament's standing orders.
As well, during that meeting, a new standing order was added barring entry into parliament of any MP with dual citizenship.
Two members of Nauru's government, Doctor Kieran Keke and Frederick Pitcher have dual citizenship.
And if Saturday's vote's judged to be valid, that means the government majority, instantly becomes a minority.
Justice Minister Mathew Batsiua is questioning both the legality of the vote, and its effect.
BATSIUA: There's been rumour around the place but like I said we weren't aware that there was a parliament sitting on Saturday. The President conveyed to him in this letter that in his opinion parliament should be called within 24 hours, so we're hoping that he will agree and resume parliament tomorrow afternoon.
COONEY: Right now in Nauru, President Marcus Stephen is the leader of his country, but not its parliament.
And while he's demanded a meeting be convened this Tuesday to resolve the issue, both he and the opposition have indicated the only way this issue might be resolved is if Nauru goes to an early election.
And early is the word.
With elections held last year, Nauru's next elections isn't due until at least August 2010.
But as Mathew Batsiua says if a solution can't be found in parliament this week, new elections are a reality.
BATSIUA: Sure I mean instability's bad for the country. I think most members will agree to that, certainly the government is also of that view. There are certain things that have to be taken care of in parliament, but yeah dissolution of this parliament if it's becoming too unworkable and unstable for the country, dissolution is becoming more and more of a realistic option.
