WELLINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Natapei made a major government reshuffle on Wednesday by dumping half his cabinet and two parties from the government as they were planning a vote of no confidence in him.

    Two coalition members of Vanuatu's ruling government, the National United Party (NUP) and the Vanuatu Republican Party (VRP) have been expelled by Prime Minister Edward Natapei, Radio Vanuatu reported.

    With the expulsion, goes eight cabinet portfolios held by party members, including the deputy prime minister, Ham Lini, leader of NUP and the Speaker of Parliament, Maxime Carlot Korman, leader of VRP.

    The sacked ministers are James Bule (Trade), Patrick Crowby (Internal Affairs), Havo Moli (Agriculture), Josie Masmas (Sports), Esmon Simon (Ni Vanuatu Business) and Harry Iauko (Lands).

    Iauko is a member of PM Natapei's Vanu'aku Pati (VP) but was removed along with the members of NUP and VRP.

    All the ministers have been replaced by members of the Opposition Alliance, who have now joined government. The Opposition Alliance has the majority number of members in parliament, with 16 of the 52 seats.

    It's leader, Sato Kilman now becomes the deputy prime minister and minister for trade.

    Radio Vanuatu has reported that a new speaker, likely to come from the Coalition group will be elected when parliament convenes in two weeks time.

    The new ministers are Moana Carcase (Internal Affairs), Paul Telukluk (Lands) Dunstan Hilton (Ni Vanuatu Business), Steven Kalsakau (Agriculture) and Raphael Worwor (Sports).

    Prime Minister Natapei made the change after increasing political pressure from his other coalition partner, the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) to give them cabinet portfolios proportionate to their numbers.

    UMP is the second largest single party in the coalition partner with eight seats.