Who is the real VP President?

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Vincent Lunapek will deliver his verdict on the civil case 64 of 2010 known as the ‘Natapei versus Iauko’ on Friday July 6th 2012 at 2h00pm.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Vincent Lunapek will deliver his verdict on the civil case 64 of 2010 known as the ‘Natapei versus Iauko’ on Friday July 6th 2012 at 2h00pm.

The judgment will determine according to the Vanua'aku Pati's Constitution who is the rightful President of the party.

The Vanua'aku Pati is currently comprised of two distinct factions, one led by the veteran and longtime MP for the Port-Vila constituency, Edward Nipake Natapei and the young elected member for Tanna and Minister of Infrastructure andPublic Utilities Harry Iauko Iaris.

The dispute which led to the the lawsuit started at the 37th VP National Congress held in Lumbukuti Village (Tongoa island) back in 2010.

The dispute between the two VP factions was about the list of the mandates.

The contention resulted in the two distinct congresses.

The Lumbukuti Congress was reportedly opened by Mr Harry Iauko and resulted in the election of a new party executive and the Mr. Iauko iaris as the new party President.

The VP faction led by Mr. Natapei moved out from Lumbukuti and held a separate Congress at Panita Village.

Natapei's faction claims that the other faction made up ficticious mandates and that the authentic ones were with the Port-Vila MP.

Harry Iauko's faction also claims that the Lumbukuti Congress was comprised of authentic mandates and that the other faction moved out to conduct a separate Congress at Panita because they knew they did not have enough mandate to re-elect Mr. Natapei to the party presidency.

The verdict of the Supreme Court today will finally determine whether the Lumbukuti Congress or the Panita Congress was conducted in accordance with the constitution of the Vanua'aku Pati and which one was not.

The Supreme Court judgment that will be delivered today will sub-consequently determine who of Iauko and Natapei is the real President of the Vanua'aku Pati is.

The Vanuaíaku Pati under the presidency of the late Father Walter Lini led the country towards independence in 1980.

At two months from the Election Day schedule for October 30th 2012, political analysts believe that the judgment today could have some positive impact for the faction that will win this trial.

The hearing of the trial between the Union of Moderate and the Union of Moderate Party for Change will also commence today.

Similarly, the dispute between the two factions of the Vanuatu Republican Party (VRP) which recently resulted in the conducting of two separate Congress in Tautu, will reportedly end up in a trial.