The Marshall Islands current Finance Minister has become the fifth person to resign from a ministerial position in the country’s constitutional history.
On Monday March 24, 2014, Minister of Finance Dennis Momotaro resigned from his position following the administration’s second no vote of confidence motion in parliament.
Momotaro reportedly met with President Loeak on the morning of the vote expressing that he would not vote with him.
The administration was faced with yet another controversy and this time for the controversial appointment of Jamil El Sayed, a former Lebanese military general as the country’s Ambassador to UNESCO.
In voting against the administration, Momotaro abstained which is counted as a yes vote. In resigning from his position, he cited moral and family values as the basis of his decision.
President Loeak expressed sadness over Momotaro’s decision to resign, but stated quote “he is courageous and honorable and despite what’s going on now I will continue to work with him.”
With Momotaro’s resignation, President Loeak now serves as the Acting Finance Minister.