In Natapei's first reshuffle Lin̄i was given the post of Minister of Justice & Social Welfare whilst remaining as Deputy Prime Minister. However, in Natapei second major cabinet reshuffle, which took place in November 2009, Lin̄i was removed as Deputy Prime Minister and replaced by Sato Kilman. Natapei had learned that Lin̄i's Vanuatu National United Party and the Vanuatu Republican Party were planning a vote of no confidence measure against him. In response to the no confidence plan, Natapei sacked half his cabinet members, including Lin̄i, and removed the Vanuatu National United Party and the Vanuatu Republican Party from his cabinet, replacing them with sixteen members of the opposition.