Credit:Ivan Sache (FOTW Flags Of The World website at flagspot.net)

Election Date: July 6, 2004

At Stake: Parliament

Background

More than 80 different islands in the Pacific Ocean form the country of Vanuatu, which attained its independence from France in 1980 and was formerly known as the New Hebrides.

Vanuatu's economy depends heavily on agriculture and tourism. The country of roughly 212,000 inhabitants was regarded as a tax haven due to lenient laws. In 2003, the government successfully implemented a series of measures to fight money-laundering activities. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) eventually removed Vanuatu from a black list of "uncooperative" states.

The year 2004 brought political instability. On Apr. 12, Alfred Maseng Nalo was elected president by Parliament. On May 11, the Vanuatu Supreme Court removed Maseng Nalo because he was a convicted criminal, and therefore ineligible to become a candidate for the highest office. Maseng Nalo—who briefly became acting president in 1994—was serving a suspended sentence for several offences, which included receiving stolen goods.

Prime minister Edward Natapei of the socialist Vanuaaku Party (VP) requested acting president and parliamentary speaker Roger Abiut to dissolve Parliament, clearing the way for an election on Jul. 6. By asking for a new ballot, Natapei was able to avoid a no-confidence motion brought upon by opposition leader Serge Vohor of the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP).

The ruling VP was divided, as three senior members—including former prime minister Donald Kalpokas—no longer supported Natapei. Defections from other lawmakers left the prime minister without a majority in the legislative branch. Natapei forged an alliance with the Vanuatu National United Party (NUP) for the election.

Opposition leader Vohor has served as Vanuatu's prime minister twice, first from December 1995 to February 1996, and then from September 1996 to March 1998.

More than 220 candidates—many of them independents—were registered. Foreign election observers from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum were cleared to monitor the election.

Voting went on without any major disruptions on Jul. 6. Final results gave the Vanuatu National United Party (NUP) 10 seats, followed by the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) and the Vanuaaku Party (VP) with eight each.

Police arrested more than 40 people in the island of Tanna for purportedly burning four ballot boxes on Jul. 9. According to published reports, supporters of two unsuccessful candidates—finance minister Jimmy Nickelim of the VP and Iaris Naunun of the Greens—overwhelmed local police officers at the Tanna airport. The ballots were on their way to Port Vila to be re-counted, in accordance with existing regulations. Nickelim was arrested and charged with inciting a terrorist act.

A parliamentary session where the speaker and prime minister were to be selected was suspended after the NUP's Ham Lini and Natapei boycotted the gathering.

A new meeting was scheduled for Jul. 29. Josia Moli of the UMP was chosen as speaker and acting president. In Parliament, the UMP's Vohor defeated Lini by 28 votes to 24 to become Vanuatu's prime minister. The coalition government encompasses members of the UMP, two politicians from the VP—Joe Nautaman and Sela Molisa—and independents.

On Aug. 16, Kalkot Mataskelekele was elected president. The lawyer is the first president of Vanuatu to hold a university degree.

On Dec. 10, prime minister Vohor was ousted after a 35-14 no-confidence motion. Several cabinet ministers had resigned after Vohor established diplomatic relations with Taiwan without consulting the Council of Ministers. The decision led to a brief rift with China.

On Dec. 11, deputy prime minister Ham Lini took over as head of government.

Political Players

President: Kalkot Mataskelekele
Prime minister: Ham Lini - NUP

The president is elected to a five-year term by the Parliament.

Legislative Branch: The Parliament / Parlement has 52 members, elected to four-year terms in multi-seat constituencies.

Results of Last Election:

Parliament - Jul. 6, 2004

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