Vanuatu,officially the Republic of Vanuatu,is an island country in Melanesia,located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago,which is of volcanic origin,is 1,750 km (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia,540 km (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia,east of New Guinea,southeast of Solomon Islands,and west of Fiji.
The history of Vanuatu spans over 3,200 years.
The politics of Vanuatu take place within the framework of a constitutional democracy. The constitution provides for a representative parliamentary system. The head of the Republic is an elected President. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu is the head of government.
John Frum is a mythic figure associated with cargo cults on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu. He is often depicted as an American World War II serviceman who will bring wealth and prosperity to the people if they follow him. Quoting David Attenborough's report of an encounter:"'E look like you. 'E got white face. 'E tall man. 'E live 'long South America."
Walter Hadye Lin̄i was a Raga Anglican priest and politician who was the first Prime Minister of Vanuatu,from independence in 1980 to 1991. He was born at Agatoa village,Pentecost Island. On his mother's side,he was a descendant of the high chief Virasangvulu,while on his father's side,he was descended from the famous weaver,Nuenue,as well as from the high chief Viralalau.
Nagriamel is a political party in Vanuatu.
Ati George Sokomanu,is a Vanuatuan politician who served as the first president of Vanuatu from 1984 to 1989.
Harry Iauko was a Ni-Vanuatu politician. He was a Member of Parliament for Tanna,representing the Vanua'aku Pati,from 2008 until his death.
Gilbert Đinh Văn Thân,more commonly known as Đinh Văn Thân,is a ni-Vanuatu "prominent businessman" and former politician. Ron Crocombe described him in 2007 as "perhaps the wealthiest entrepreneur and largest private employer in Vanuatu and many say the most politically influential [...] citizen".
General elections were held for the first time in the New Hebrides on 10 November 1975. The result was a victory for the New Hebrides National Party,which won 17 seats in the new Representative Assembly.
Early general elections were held in the New Hebrides on 29 November 1977 following the dissolution of the Representative Assembly elected in 1975 due to the Vanua'aku Pati blocking its work in order to protest the inclusion of members elected by the Chamber of Commerce.
General elections were held in the New Hebrides on 14 November 1979 for the seats in Representative Assembly,the last before independence the following year. The result was a victory for the Vanua'aku Pati,which won 25 of the 39 seats,with its partner party Natui Tanno winning one. Voter turnout was 90.3%.
General elections were held in Vanuatu on 30 October 2012. The previous elections to the 52-member Parliament of Vanuatu were held in 2008. The largest parties in this election were the socialist Vanua'aku Party,which won 11 seats,and the social-democratic National United Party. Thirteen other parties as well as four independents won parliamentary seats. As a result,Edward Natapei of the Vanua'aku Party was able to become the Prime Minister. Since then,both Serge Vohor of the conservative Union of Moderate Parties and Sato Kilman of the People's Progressive Party have held that position,with Kilman being the incumbent Prime Minister of Vanuatu at the time of the 2012 election.
A by-election was held in the constituency of the Southern Islands in Vanuatu in December 2009.
Pascal Sebastien Iauko,born 16 May 1986,is a Vanuatuan politician.
A by-election was held in the Tanna constituency in Vanuatu on 27 May 2013. It followed the death of incumbent MP Harry Iauko,who was also the Minister for Infrastructure,Public Utilities and Public Service.
A by-election to the Parliament of Vanuatu was held in the constituency of Port-Vila on 15 October 2015. It followed the death of sitting MP Edward Natapei,of the centre-left Vanua'aku Pati. Natapei died after a long illness in July. Although Port-Vila is a multi-member constituency,only one seat was vacant,and therefore only one new member was elected.
Michael Ala was a Vanuatuan medical practitioner,clergyman and politician. He served as a member of the Advisory Council from 1964 to 1975.
Mary Laufa Gilu is a Vanuatuan former politician. She and Tessa Fowler were the first women elected to the New Hebrides Representative Assembly,serving from 1975 to 1977.
Tessa Fowler is a Vanuatuan former politician. She and Mary Gilu were the first women elected to the New Hebrides Representative Assembly,serving from 1975 to 1977.
