Vanuatu
Parliament
-
Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Parliamentary system
-
Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
View field in the data dictionary -
Unicameral
-
IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
-
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
View field in the data dictionary -
16 Jan 2025
-
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
View field in the data dictionary -
18 Nov 2024
-
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
View field in the data dictionary -
Early elections
-
Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
View field in the data dictionary -
31 Jan 2029
-
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
52
-
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
View field in the data dictionary -
Full renewal
Candidates
-
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
View field in the data dictionary -
23
Notes: 25 parties registered but 23 parties actually fielded candidates.
-
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
View field in the data dictionary -
216
-
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
209
-
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
7
-
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
View field in the data dictionary -
3.2%
Voter turnout
-
Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
212,245
Results
-
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
Snap elections in 2025 resulted in a fragmented parliament again. The 52-member legislature comprises 14 parties (down from 17 elected in 2022). Only one woman was elected, as was the case in 2022. On 27 January, five parties agreed to form a coalition government (see note 1). On 11 February, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Mr. Felix Stephen Dorrick (Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV)) as its new Speaker. Mr. Jotham Napat, a former foreign minister and LPV President was elected unopposed as the new Prime Minister.
The 2025 elections – the second snap poll in two years – were the first to be held after the 2024 constitutional amendments were passed. These aim to curb political instability (see note 2) in a country where multiple votes of no confidence in the government have been called. The 2025 snap elections followed an attempted no confidence vote against Prime Minister Charlot Salwai (Reunification Movement for Change (RMC), see note 3) and an impeachment motion against President Nikenike Vurobaravu. On 18 November 2024, the eve of the no confidence vote, the President dissolved Parliament. This led to the snap election after a Supreme Court ruling in December that validated the dissolution of Parliament.
The elections were held one month after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on 17 December, which claimed 14 lives, injured more than 200 people, and displaced thousands. The elections, which were initially scheduled for 14 January 2025, were delayed by two days. During election campaigning, the major parties focused on recovery from the earthquake.
Note 1:
The five parties and their leaders are: the Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV, led by Mr. Jotham Napat); Vanua'aku Pati (VP, Mr. Johnny Koanapo); Iauko Group (IG, Mr. Marc Ati); Graon mo Jastis Pati (GJP, Mr. Ralph Regenvanu); and Reunification Movement for Change (RMC, Mr. Charlot Salwai). They jointly hold 32 seats in the new legislature.Note 2:
In May 2024, Vanuatu adopted constitutional amendments in accordance with the Constitution (Eighth) (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2023, passed by Parliament in December 2023. The amendments aim to curb political instability by locking MPs into their political parties, and requiring independents and single-MP parties to affiliate themselves with larger political parties for the entire legislature.
Source: https://electoral.gov.vu/elections/2024-elections/2024-national-referendumNote 3:
Since the previous elections in 2022, Vanuatu had had three Prime Ministers: Mr. Ishmael Kalsakau (Union of Moderate Parties); Mr. Sato Kilman (People's Progressive Party); and Mr. Charlot Salwai (RMC). -
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
14
-
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
60.9%
-
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
17.3%
-
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
-
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
5
-
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV), Vanua'aku Pati (VP), Iauko Group (IG), Graon mo Jastis Pati (Land and Justice Party, GJP), Reunification Movement for Change (RMC)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total |
---|---|
Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) | 9 |
Vanua'aku Pati (VP) | 7 |
Iauko Group (IG) | 6 |
Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) | 6 |
Rural Development Party (RDP) | 6 |
Graon mo Jastis Pati (Land and Justice Party, GJP) | 5 |
Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) | 5 |
Vanuatu Green Confederation Party (GC) | 1 |
National United Party (NUP) | 1 |
Laverwo Party | 1 |
Vanuatu Progressive Development Party (VPDP) | 1 |
Namarakieana Movement | 1 |
Nagriamel Movement | 1 |
Ngwasoanda Custom Movement (NCM) | 1 |
Independents | 1 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
-
51
- Number of women elected
-
1
-
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
1.9%
- Women Directly Elected
-
1
- Sources
-
Parliament (29.01.2025, 30.01.2025, 11.02.2025)
Official Gazette No. 8, 29 January 2025
https://www.rnz.co.nz/
https://electoral.gov.vu/elections/2024-elections/2024-national-referendum
https://www.abc.net.au
https://www.dailypost.vu
https://www.reuters.com/
https://islandsbusiness.com
https://www.theguardian.com
https://www.benarnews.org
https://www.canberratimes.com.au
https://pina.com.fj/
https://www.postcourier.com.pg
New legislature
-
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
51
-
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
1
-
Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
1.9%
-
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
No information available
-
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
No information available
-
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
View field in the data dictionary -
11 Feb 2025
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
-
Felix Stephen Dorrick (Male)
Date of birth: 16 Sep 1973 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
View field in the data dictionary -
Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV)
-
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
11 Feb 2025