snap elections

Vanuatu snap election rated as one of top pacific stories in 2022

The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country's parliament on August 19, by President Nikenike Vurobaravu, and on the eve of a motion of a no-confidence vote against then-prime minister Bob Loughman.

In October, official results revealed a fractured parliament with seven being the highest number of MPs won by a single party.

Concerns were also raised by an election watchdog.

In November, Ishmael Kalsakau was elected unopposed as the 13th Prime Minister of Vanuatu by secret ballot.

Shinzo Abe wins resounding victory in Japan, exit polls say

On hearing of his victory he said he would "firmly deal with" threats from North Korea.

The public broadcaster NHK put Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party-led (LDP) coalition at 312 seats, allowing it to retain its two-thirds "super majority".

This is vital to his ambition to revise Japan's post-war pacifist constitution.

Article 9 of the constitution, enacted by the country's American occupiers in 1947, calls for the complete renunciation of war.

Vanuatu’s official snap election results on Monday

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Killion Taleo confirmed work is expected to be finalized over the weekend.

Many were expecting the official results during the week or the latest other the weekend but the announcement now puts to rest their speculation.

Vanuatu went to the polls on Friday 22 January after President, Baldwin Lonsdale dissolved parliament in October last year amidst political crisis that was instigated by the imprisonment of 13 government MPs for corruption.

The unofficial results as they stand today are as follows:  

More new faces than old ones in Vanuatu’s new parliament: unofficial results

Isaac Hamariliu is a member of Caretaker Prime Minister, Sato Kilman’s Peoples Progressive Party while American-born, Robert Bohn is the founder of his People Development Party. In the tenth legislature, they were occupying the two seats of Epi constituency.

In the smallest constituency of Paama, Graon and Jastis Party’s, William Fred Taso has reportedly secured the only seat, according to unofficial results.

Vanuatu Electoral Commission denies youth missing out

The president of Vanuatu Youth Against Corruption, Priscilla Meto, told our correspondent more than 70 per cent of people who turned 18 after the last election in 2012 will be unable to vote on Friday.

She says more than 3,000 young people haven't been able to enrol and will have to wait until 2020 to be heard.

Commonwealth to observe Vanuatu elections

The snap election is being held nine months ahead of schedule, following a period of political instability in which 14 Members of Parliament were convicted of bribery. The convictions led to a political deadlock between the Government and the Opposition which prompted President Baldwin Lonsdale to dissolve Parliament.  

The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, mobilised the Observer Group at the invitation of the Vanuatu Government. He said its work would complement the Commonwealth’s ongoing effort to support democracy in the country.

Only eight women contest Vanuatu election

This year, 183 candidates are standing, with the Electoral Commission expected to release a final list tonight that could potentially add 80 more.

The sole female candidate in Port Vila, Nadia Kanegai, who is standing for the People's Progressive Party of the caretaker prime minister Sato Kilman, says women are keen to participate in politics.

Replacement voter cards sent to Vanuatu's Tanna

The distribution follows complaints that many voters lost their cards when cyclone Pam devastated much of the island last March.

With seven seats in parliament, Tanna is Vanuatu's biggest constituency and some parties have expressed concern that many locals may be unable to vote in the snap election on 22 January.

Vanuatu returns to poll on 22nd January 2016

This comes after the 10th legislature of the Republic of Vanuatu was dissolved by President Baldwin Lonsdale on Tuesday last week.

All political parties have in the past week be making necessary preparations for the snap election.

Caretaker Prime Minister Sato Kilman’s People’s Progressive Party has announced it is fielding 16 candidates.