Vanuatu - Political background



The colonial history of Vanuatu is unique in the Pacific Islands. For 74 years prior to independence, the islands were ruled as a "condominium," controlled jointly by France and England. This meant that each colonial power maintained a separate administration. Though these were equal in theory, the actual amount of French and English influence varied greatly from island to island. This unusual history has important political consequences today. For example, the Vanua'aku Pati (Vanautu Party—VP) led by Father Walter Lini, which dominated politics from 1971 until 1991 and again in 2001, when Natapei came to power, is regarded as the representative of anglophone interests. It has been associated in the news media with Anglican and Presbyterian congregations.

At present, the country is a republic, governed by a single-chamber Parliament, or Representative Assembly, made up of 52 members. This body is elected regionally at least every four years; the voting age is 18. Executive power is vested in the prime minister and a council of ministers. After a general election, Parliament meets to elect a new prime minister who then proceeds to form a government. The number of ministers in the council must not be more than a quarter of the number of members of Parliament. The government has been changed frequently by means of a motion of no-confidence. Edward Natapei, who became prime minister in 2001 through such a motion, was the nation's third prime minister in three years.

Vanuatu's head of state is the president, elected on a secret ballot by an electoral college of Parliament and the presidents of the six provincial councils. His term of office is five years. The incumbent is H. E. Father John Bani. The Constitution also allows for a national council of chiefs which meets at least once a year to discuss matters that will help promote and preserve ni-Vanuatu culture and languages.

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