Nauru’s foreign minister resigns from office
8 February, 2013
Nauru's foreign minister
resigns from office
Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Health and
Sport has resigned from Cabinet.
Dr Kieren Keke's resignation was announced by Speaker of
Parliament Ludwig Scotty at the start of yesterday's (7 Feb)
parliamentary sitting. No reason was given for the former
minister's decision.
It had been anticipated that the Opposition would move a motion
of No Confidence against the government under Article 24, as
foreshadowed at the last sitting by Opposition member David Adeang.
However, when he failed to bring on the motion immediately after
Opening Prayers - and part way through Question Time - Dr Keke rose
on a point of order to ask why the motion had not been raised.
Mr Adeang responded that his group was prepared to wait until
after Questions before proceeding, but Dr Keke argued that the
matter, being the First Order of the day should proceed. Mr Adeang
then sought to have the motion deferred until the next sitting and
after some debate, the Speaker agreed to let the House resolve the
issue by putting it to a vote.
The result of the ballot was in favour of dealing with the No
Confidence motion immediately, the numbers 9 for and 8 against.
Shortly after the Speaker ordered Mr Adeang to withdraw the
motion or proceed henceforth. The motion was then struck from the
Notice Paper.
The remainder of the sitting dealt with a Supplementary
Appropriation Bill presented by Finance Minister Roland Kun with
the House adjourning late in the evening after a spirited
Adjournment Debate.