PORT VILA – The fate of President Baldwin Lonsdale now hinges on a court decision on the legality of his action to dissolve Vanuatu’s Parliament.

Former Opposition MPs have not only been preparing for the election but are also looking at what’s next.

While they are keeping their fingers crossed for the outcome of the constitutional court decision on the dissolution of Parliament, discussions also overshadow how they would help, as they termed, restore the integrity of the president’s office, if the court decision falls in their favour.

One former Opposition MP says if the court rules in our favour, events that follow will eventually result in the dismissal of President Baldwin.

When asked how this will happen, he replied the new government will convene the Electoral College who in turn will vote to oust Fr Baldwin from his position as President of the Republic of Vanuatu.

He says the former opposition MPs currently commands the majority of members in the Electoral College. The Electoral College consists of MPs and the Presidents of the provincial councils. It is the Electoral College that elects and can dismiss the president.

Opposition say the reasons for this is that the integrity of the State Office has been stained by three separate court cases against the head of state within a period of two month.

The first event involving this constitutional position was when the (then) acting president Marcelino Pipite, when facing corruption charges, pardoned himself and his convicted fellow politicians. At the time, President Baldwin was overseas. Mr Pipite was using the official state vehicle and flying the state flag when entering the court compound.

Second was when Serge Vohor, Tony Right and Jonas James challenged the President’s decision to revoke the pardon instilled by Mr Pipite.