2022 Vanuatuan general election

2022 Vanuatuan general election
	All 52 seats in Parliament; 27 seats needed for a majority
Bob Loughman; Vanua'aku Pati	Ishmael Kalsakau; UMP

Snap general elections were held in Vanuatu on 13 October 2022 to elect all 52 seats in Parliament. President Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolved Parliament in August 2022 on advice of the Council of Ministers ahead of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Bob Loughman.^[1]

Background

On 18 August 2022 the new president dissolved Parliament midway through the parliamentary term at the request of Prime Minister Bob Loughman, who requested the dissolution to avoid a no confidence vote.^[2] The motion sparked criticism from the opposition, with opposition leader Ralph Regenvanu announcing that the opposing parties would contest the dissolution in court.^[3]

Electoral system

The 52 members of

first-past-the-post system.^[4]

Results


Vemarana						1,038	0.78	0	–1
	Unity for Change Movement	1,020	0.77	1	New
	Vanuatu Liberal Movement	1,002	0.76	1	0
	Vanuatu New Nation Party	886	0.67	0	0
	Ngwasoanda Custom Movement	868	0.66	1	0
	Namarakieana Movement	842	0.64	1	New
	Liswin	763	0.58	0	New
	The People's Party	732	0.55	0	0
	Vanuatu Community Movement	714	0.54	0	0
	People's Services Party	672	0.51	0	New
	Pentecost Aelan Kastom Movement	586	0.44	0	New
	Oceania Transformation Movement	583	0.44	0	0
	Vanuatu Republican Party	557	0.42	0	0
	Upi Nafzan Iskei	445	0.34	0	0
	Vanuatu Cultural Self Reliant Movement	398	0.30	0	–1
	United Movements for Vanuatu People	315	0.24	0	0
	Divine Freedom Alliance Party	302	0.23	0	New
	Wan Nakmal	240	0.18	0	New
	Friend Melanesian Party	229	0.17	0	0
	Vanuatu Progressive Republican Farmer Party	197	0.15	0	0
	North to South United Party	190	0.14	0	New
	Shepherds Alliance Party	138	0.10	0	0
	Liberal Democratic Party	81	0.06	0	New
	Shepherd Sea Eagles Alliance	49	0.04	0	New
	Household Prosperity Party	34	0.03	0	New
	Movement for Righteousness, Justice and Peace	16	0.01	0	New
	Imaim	4	0.00	0	New
	Independents	11,958	9.04	1	+1
Total		132,312	100.00	52	0

Valid votes		132,312	99.13
Invalid/blank votes		1,155	0.87
Total votes		133,467	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		302,258	44.16
Source: Vanuatu Electoral Office

By constituency

Ambae
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Jay Ngwele	Rural Development Party	996	24.57
	James Bule	People's Unity Development Party	588	14.51
	John Still Tari Qetu	National United Party	521	12.85
	Howard Aru	Vanua'aku Pati	501	12.36
	Samuel Garae Virakwahe	Nagriamel	501	12.36
	Alban Garae	Rural Development Party	482	11.89
	Paulson Garae Ala	Land and Justice Party	381	9.40
	Tari Richard Mera Liliu	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	83	2.05
Total			4,053	100.00

Valid votes			4,053	99.29
Invalid/blank votes			29	0.71
Total votes			4,082	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			11,167	36.55

Ambrym
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	John Salong	Land and Justice Party	964	24.83
	Bruno Leingkone	National United Party	915	23.57
	Willie Tirian Abuit	Vanua'aku Pati	766	19.73
	Bong Jean-Alain	Reunification Movement for Change	636	16.38
	Yeovye Elie Sagan	Union of Moderate Parties	446	11.49
	Joshua Bong	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	155	3.99
Total			3,882	100.00

Valid votes			3,882	99.36
Invalid/blank votes			25	0.64
Total votes			3,907	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			8,435	46.32

Banks
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Jack Wona	Vanuatu National Development Party	904	27.41
	Danny Silas [fr]	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	876	26.56
	Shadrack Welegtabit	Land and Justice Party	753	22.83
	Victor Gesul Wetias	Rural Development Party	558	16.92
	Din Frankie Field	Vanua'aku Pati	110	3.34
	Nixon Fanai	Independent	97	2.94
Total			3,298	100.00

Valid votes			3,298	98.77
Invalid/blank votes			41	1.23
Total votes			3,339	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			5,981	55.83

Efate
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Norris Jack Kalmet	Reunification Movement for Change	1,837	9.56
	Jean Baptist Tama	Independent	1,782	9.27
	Andrew Samuel Kalpoilep	Union of Moderate Parties	1,767	9.19
	Gloria Julia King	Union of Moderate Parties	1,618	8.42
	Luo Jesse	Union of Moderate Parties	1,533	7.98
	Fred Lui Samuel	Vanua'aku Pati	1,340	6.97
	Eric Iani	Iauko Group	1,179	6.13
	Benson Clerance Kanas	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	1,077	5.60
	Gillon William Kalotiti	Land and Justice Party	966	5.03
	Bakoa Kaltonga	Vanua'aku Pati	913	4.75
	Joshua Tafura Kalsakau	Rural Development Party	897	4.67
	Lionel Kalwat	The People's Party	732	3.81
	Malas Junior Metovao	Vanuatu New Nation Party	704	3.66
	Kalmer Kalwatman	Vanua'aku Pati	529	2.75
	John Mark Ruben Tarisong	Vanua'aku Pati	485	2.52
	Kaltak Ghislain	Upi Nafzan Iskei	445	2.32
	Morrison Frank Robert	Green Confederation	369	1.92
	Graham Jack Takalo	Independent	324	1.69
	Alick Kalmelu Motoutorua	Independent	229	1.19
	David Woka Daniel	Independent	226	1.18
	Jean Pierre Serel	National United Party	113	0.59
	Paul Tabinok Ruvurup	Independent	85	0.44
	Iven Marafi	Divine Freedom Alliance Party	71	0.37
Total			19,221	100.00

Valid votes			19,221	98.98
Invalid/blank votes			198	1.02
Total votes			19,419	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			46,888	41.42

Epi
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Seule Simeon	Laverwo Movement	778	20.89
	John Nil	Vanuatu Progressive Development Party	688	18.47
	Robert Bohn Sikol	Vanuatu Progressive Development Party	630	16.92
	Omawa Mael	Independent	590	15.84
	Marcel Yona	Land and Justice Party	423	11.36
	Eric Moses Daniel	Vanua'aku Pati	342	9.18
	John Isaac	Reunification Movement for Change	271	7.28
	Okis Fred Abed	Wan Nakamal	2	0.05
Total			3,724	100.00

Valid votes			3,724	98.75
Invalid/blank votes			47	1.25
Total votes			3,771	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			6,807	55.40

Luganville
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Ati Marc	Iauko Group	2,394	39.81
	Matai Seremaiah [fr]	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	1,209	20.10
	Eric John Tahun	Vanua'aku Pati	782	13.00
	Boe Pedro	Nagriamel	460	7.65
	Gary Mahina	National United Party	375	6.24
	Jimmy Solomon Viradiu	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	226	3.76
	Donald Restuetune	Union of Moderate Parties	224	3.72
	Kalmet Kasso	Reunification Movement for Change	182	3.03
	Marisan Leiwia Pierre	Independent	162	2.69
Total			6,014	100.00

Valid votes			6,014	98.95
Invalid/blank votes			64	1.05
Total votes			6,078	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			18,018	33.73

Maewo
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Ian Wilson	Ngwasoanda Custom Movement	868	41.53
	Reynolds Boeson Boeleguriega	Vanua'aku Pati	516	24.69
	Silli Manaseh	Independent	294	14.07
	Vanessa Molisa	Laverwo Movement	268	12.82
	Mickney Aruwai Natu	Rural Development Party	144	6.89
Total			2,090	100.00

Valid votes			2,090	97.89
Invalid/blank votes			45	2.11
Total votes			2,135	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			3,438	62.10

Malekula
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Edmond Julun	Laverwo Movement	274	1.78
	Kalo Malres	Independent	257	1.67
	Alfred Rolland	Land and Justice Party	239	1.56
	Apia Nawenorgoth	People's Unity Development Party	143	0.93
	Diego Werssets	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	142	0.92
	Jeneck Patunvanu	Nagriamel	141	0.92
	Apia Willie Masing	Wan Nakamal	26	0.17
Total			15,354	100.00

Valid votes			15,354	99.33
Invalid/blank votes			104	0.67
Total votes			15,458	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			28,307	54.61

Malo–Aore
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Wesly Rasu [fr]	Vanua'aku Pati	1,052	43.36
	Frazer Moli	Union of Moderate Parties	493	20.32
	Nelson Shem	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	343	14.14
	Moulin Dehinavanua Tabouti	Land and Justice Party	309	12.74
	Lele Petelo	Vanuatu New Nation Party	182	7.50
	Michael Kalmet	Independent	47	1.94
Total			2,426	100.00

Valid votes			2,426	99.18
Invalid/blank votes			20	0.82
Total votes			2,446	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			5,134	47.64

Paama
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Andy Job Sam	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	244	33.61
	Mailalong Nos Terry	Vanua'aku Pati	228	31.40
	William Fred Tasso	Iauko Group	112	15.43
	Jonas James	Union of Moderate Parties	81	11.16
	Billy Maki	Reunification Movement for Change	31	4.27
	Assion Mahit Sali	Rural Development Party	19	2.62
	Stanley Josephat Demis Lango	Wan Nakamal	6	0.83
	David Joel	Independent	5	0.69
Total			726	100.00

Valid votes			726	98.91
Invalid/blank votes			8	1.09
Total votes			734	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,543	47.57

Pentecost
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Vemarana Federation Custom Movement	92	0.99
	Thompson Liu	Household Prosperity Party	34	0.37
Total			9,262	100.00

Valid votes			9,262	99.21
Invalid/blank votes			74	0.79
Total votes			9,336	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			18,155	51.42

Port Vila
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Justin Ngwele	Rural Development Party	2,171	12.91
	Ralph Regenvanu	Land and Justice Party	2,115	12.57
	Anthony Iauko [fr]	Union of Moderate Parties	1,578	9.38
	Ishmael Kalsakau	Union of Moderate Parties	1,516	9.01
	Ulrich Sumptoh	Reunification Movement for Change	1,342	7.98
	Kenneth Natapei	Vanua'aku Pati	1,174	6.98
	Moana Carcasses Kalosil	Green Confederation	963	5.72
	Natonga Saby	Union of Moderate Parties	892	5.30
	James Tari	Independent	804	4.78
	Felix Stephen Dorrick	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	723	4.30
	Sam Firi	Independent	477	2.84
	Sowany Joseph Matou	National United Party	404	2.40
	Lui Doresday Kenneth	Independent	375	2.23
	Nadia Kanegai	Independent	331	1.97
	Hocten Paul	United Movements for Vanuatu People	315	1.87
	Donald Benjamin Abiut	Namarakieana Movement	274	1.63
	Hezekiah Loli Bodan Vanu	Independent	266	1.58
	Etul Olivier	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	229	1.36
	Christopher Joseph Kernot	Wan Nakamal	206	1.22
	Lopez Adams	Independent	143	0.85
	Morris Tom Kaloran	Shepherd Alliance Party	138	0.82
	Hilton Dunstan	People's Progressive Party	115	0.68
	Willie Jimmy	Liberal Democratic Party	81	0.48
	Evelyne Utissets	Independent	66	0.39
	Joseph Bani Togagi	People's Unity Development Party	50	0.30
	Joel Jeff Patunvanu	Nagriamel	45	0.27
	Jacques Gedeon Taritong	Independent	28	0.17
Total			16,821	100.00

Valid votes			16,821	99.06
Invalid/blank votes			160	0.94
Total votes			16,981	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			50,151	33.86

Santo
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Vemarana Federation Custom Movement	946	4.50
	Eric Letlet	Vanua'aku Pati	937	4.46
	Jean Toa	National United Party	905	4.30
	Livo Mele	Vanuatu Community Movement	714	3.40
	Urinamoli Wara Wara	Rural Development Party	688	3.27
	Serge Vohor	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	619	2.94
	Marcellino Pipite	Vanuatu Republican Party	557	2.65
	George Jacob	People's Unity Development Party	507	2.41
	Ravu Breten	Union of Moderate Parties	491	2.34
	Sopakum Nako	Vanuatu Presidential Party	474	2.25
	Taribagoto Glen Steward	Independent	243	1.16
	Edwin Amblus	Friend Melanesian Party	229	1.09
	Tiroles Jean Jacques Maliu	Independent	212	1.01
	Ravou Akii Kolomoule Jean	Vanuatu Progress Republican Fama	197	0.94
	William John Verekon Arme	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	197	0.94
	Bororoa Edouard Boulememe	North to South United Party	190	0.90
	Antonio Tal	Green Confederation	181	0.86
	Arsen Maliu	Union of Moderate Parties	176	0.84
	Timothy Ian Pune	Independent	115	0.55
	Kolumule Philip Panpan	Independent	89	0.42
	Gabriel Voia Lulu	National United Party	83	0.39
	Daniel R. M. Molisa	Community Movement for Righteousness, Peace and Justice	16	0.08
Total			21,026	100.00

Valid votes			21,026	99.36
Invalid/blank votes			136	0.64
Total votes			21,162	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			44,101	47.99

Shepherds
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	John Timakata [fr]	Vanua'aku Pati	552	62.73
	Willie Pakoa Saatearoto	Green Confederation	279	31.70
	Harrison Toar L. Vaka Matan	Shepherd Sea Eagles Alliance	49	5.57
Total			880	100.00

Valid votes			880	98.99
Invalid/blank votes			9	1.01
Total votes			889	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			1,495	59.46

Southern Islands
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Netvunei Tomker	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	1,128	50.45
	Shing Benjamin Nepcevanhas	Vanua'aku Pati	599	26.79
	Martin David Naling Nilwo	Rural Development Party	509	22.76
Total			2,236	100.00

Valid votes			2,236	98.98
Invalid/blank votes			23	1.02
Total votes			2,259	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			4,613	48.97

Tanna
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Emanuel Xavier Harry	Iauko Group	2,359	13.08
	Jothan Napat	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	2,230	12.37
	Andrew Solomon Napuat	Land and Justice Party	1,747	9.69
	Johnny Koanapo	Vanua'aku Pati	1,708	9.47
	Nako Ianatom Natuman	Union of Moderate Parties	1,380	7.65
	Simil Kalptu Johnson Youse	Vanua'aku Pati	1,332	7.39
	Bob Loughman	Vanua'aku Pati	1,200	6.66
	Robin Kapapa Tom	Union of Moderate Parties	878	4.87
	Joe Natuman	Liswin	763	4.23
	James Noumeta	Independent	760	4.22
	Natonga Collin Jacques	Union of Moderate Parties	725	4.02
	Silas Rouard Yatan	Green Confederation	554	3.07
	Willie Kapalu	Independent	509	2.82
	Thomas Laken	Reunification Movement for Change	464	2.57
	Tom Noam	Rural Development Party	454	2.52
	Nalau Jeffry Kaut	Independent	434	2.41
	John Junior Ierongen	Rural Development Party	376	2.09
	Peter Kaoh	Independent	116	0.64
	Song Keasipai	Pikinini Blong Kraon Movement	35	0.19
	George Iapson	Imaim	4	0.02
	Daniel Koman	Independent	2	0.01
Total			18,030	100.00

Valid votes			18,030	99.27
Invalid/blank votes			133	0.73
Total votes			18,163	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			41,945	43.30

Tongoa
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	John Amos [fr]	Namarakieana Movement	568	48.80
	Willie Daniel Kalo	Union of Moderate Parties	455	39.09
	Thomson Pakoa Matokai Kokona	People's Unity Development Party	140	12.03
	Maryline. A. Abel	Vanua'aku Pati	1	0.09
Total			1,164	100.00

Valid votes			1,164	99.83
Invalid/blank votes			2	0.17
Total votes			1,166	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,647	44.05

Torres
Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Christophe Emelee	Vanuatu National Development Party	720	34.20
	John Joseph	Rural Development Party	611	29.03
	Hopkins Sawon Dick Olivier	Vanua'aku Pati	503	23.90
	Timothy Womai	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	271	12.87
Total			2,105	100.00

Valid votes			2,105	98.27
Invalid/blank votes			37	1.73
Total votes			2,142	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			3,433	62.39

Aftermath

On 4 November

PPP and LM, for a total of 30 MPs.^[5]^[6] Vanuatu elected its first woman parliament member in 14 years; Gloria Julia King.^[7]^[8]

Subsequent by-elections

2023 Malekula by-election

Caused by the criminal conviction of incumbent Sanick Asang. Despite this Asang was declared eligible and contested the snap election. The election was held on 7 September 2023.


Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Don Ken Stephen	People's Progressive Party	3,814	31.50
	Sanick Asang	National United Party	3,082	25.45
	Jerety Johnety	Reunification Movement for Change	2,662	21.99
	Fabian Gary Hanhabat Vinbel	Vanua'aku Pati	2,550	21.06
Total			12,108	100.00

Valid votes			12,108	97.46
Invalid/blank votes			315	2.54
Total votes			12,423	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			29,495	42.12
Source: Vanuatu Electoral Office

2024 Ambrym by-election

the seat was vacated after Bruno Leingkone (National United Party) missed three consecutive sittings of Parliament while receiving medical treatment in South Korea. The election was held on 14 March 2024.


Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Buleban Basile	National United Party	1,083	30.16
	Morris Mawa	Land and Justice Party	921	25.65
	Bong Jean Alain Tiomai	Reunification Movement for Change	908	25.29
	Yeoye Elie Sagan	Union of Moderate Parties	465	12.95
	Simelum Maki Stanley	Vanua'aku Pati	214	5.96
Total			3,591	100.00

Valid votes			3,591	98.82
Invalid/blank votes			43	1.18
Total votes			3,634	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			8,927	40.71
Source: Vanuatu Electoral Office, VBTC LAEF

References

^ "Vanuatu's president dissolves parliament to avoid ousting of prime minister". The Guardian. Reuters. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
^ Hawkins, Koroi (19 August 2022). "Vanuatu president dissolves parliament". RNZ. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^ "Court challenge to dissolution of Vanuatu parliament expected". RNZ. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
^ Republic of Vanuatu: Election for Ni-Vanuatu Parliament IFES
^ Manassah, Kiery (11 November 2022). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau's opportunity to write his own story". DevPolicy Blog. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^ Maykin, Melissa; Srinivasan, Prianka (4 November 2022). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau becomes Vanuatu's prime minister after country elects first female MP in 14 years". ABC. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
^ "Vanuatu Elects Gloria Julia King to Parliament, First Woman MP in 14 Years". Global Citizen. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022.
^ "Times have changed, says Vanuatu's first woman MP in 14 years". France 24. 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022.

[1] "Vanuatu's president dissolves parliament to avoid ousting of prime minister". The Guardian. Reuters. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-25.

[2] Hawkins, Koroi (19 August 2022). "Vanuatu president dissolves parliament". RNZ. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.

[3] "Court challenge to dissolution of Vanuatu parliament expected". RNZ. 2022-08-19. Retrieved 2022-08-25.

[4] Republic of Vanuatu: Election for Ni-Vanuatu Parliament IFES

[5] Manassah, Kiery (11 November 2022). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau's opportunity to write his own story". DevPolicy Blog. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

[6] Maykin, Melissa; Srinivasan, Prianka (4 November 2022). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau becomes Vanuatu's prime minister after country elects first female MP in 14 years". ABC. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

[7] "Vanuatu Elects Gloria Julia King to Parliament, First Woman MP in 14 Years". Global Citizen. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022.

[8] "Times have changed, says Vanuatu's first woman MP in 14 years". France 24. 27 October 2022. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022.

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