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Two Pacific Island governments have been plunged into deepening political crises this week.
While Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is struggling to keep his coalition's majority in the House after a spate of resignations by his deputy, some senior ministers and backbenchers, Nauru President Ludwig Scotty has
just about managed to save his Government after a no-confidence motion - at least for now.
There were eight votes against Scotty and seven in favour, but his Government was saved because at least nine votes are needed to change it. At the centre of the controversy is Vice-President and Finance Minister David Adeang, who the opposition accuses of financial impropriety in his dealings with Asian businessmen, improprieties which Scotty, they say, has ignored. The opposition is planning another no-confidence motion.
In the Solomon Islands, Sogavare is fighting what appears to be a losing battle in winning the support of 24 MPs. The opposition says it has 26 signatures, but claims and counterclaims have been changing daily.
The crisis began to unfold last Saturday when Deputy Prime Minister Toswell Kaua, Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo and senior minister Steve Abana resigned. Several other ministers and backbenchers followed, giving signed letters to Governor-General Sir Nathaniel Waena on Monday.
But Sogavare said he had sacked the three senior ministers and announced that new ministers would be appointed immediately. In a dramatic twist late on Monday, three ministers and backbenchers who had deserted Sogavare earlier in the day returned when they were offered Lilo and Abana's ministries. But before Sogavare could count on the support of these three, two others resigned to join the opposition.
Both sides have accused each other of offering money and enticements to induce representatives to cross the floor.
Waena, who first said he saw this as a political rather than a constitutional crisis, is reported to have sought the advice of controversial Attorney-General Julian Moti and Solicitor-General Reginald Teutao.
The opposition claims the advisers prevailed on Waena to reject its petition calling for a no-confidence motion. Opposition leader Fred Fono said it was now considering legal action against Waena's decision.
Sogavare's Government has survived a couple of no-confidence motions since it came to power following the riots that reduced Honiara's Chinatown quarter to cinders in April last year. One motion was disqualified on a technicality when its Parliament was last in session about two months ago.
Throughout his 18-month tenure, Sogavare has been criticised by not just his opposition, but by many of his own Cabinet ministers.
He has repeatedly had run-ins with the Australian-led Ramsi (Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands).
Surveys indicate there is popular support for the Pacific multinational force, of which New Zealand is a part, that was instrumental in pulling the country back from the brink in 2003 after years of lawlessness.
Sogavare has been increasingly critical of Ramsi's continuing presence. His insistence on appointing his long-time friend Julian Moti - wanted in Australia on sex-related charges - as Attorney-General and Jahir Khan, a Fiji citizen, as police commissioner against Ramsi's advice has been one of the main reasons for the no-confidence motions. His decision last month to stay out of the Pacific Island Forum summit seems to have given critical mass to his detractors' plans.
Meanwhile, the opposition has already begun announcing its to-do list when it forms the next government. First is putting Moti back on a plane to Australia.
