Vanua'aku Pati

The Vanua'aku Pati (could be translated with Our Land Party^[1]) is a political party in Vanuatu. At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 11 out of 52 seats, becoming the largest party in Parliament.

The party was founded in the early 1970s by Walter Lini and was known until 1974 as the New Hebrides National Party. The party won the pre-independence 1979 elections and Lini became chief minister. The country gained independence in 1980 and Lini became the first Prime Minister of Vanuatu, remaining in the post until 1991. In 1991 the party split, and Lini was among those who left the party. After the 1991 elections, the party lost its dominance over the government. Despite this, the party remained strong. During the next decade, as party members Donald Kalpokas and Edward Natapei served as prime ministers of Vanuatu. The party began steadily losing seats in the early 2000s; it took 18 in the 1998 elections, 14 in the 2002 elections, and 8 in the 2004 elections, a setback which forced Prime Minister Natapei to resign. The party suffered another split after the elections, as the leadership refused to support the national coalition government of Serge Vohor while two Vanua'aku Party representatives supported this government, allowing it to take office. However, after a controversy over the diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and China, the Vanua'aku Party reunited in December 2004 and was involved in the effort to oust Vohor. It remained influential, and was a key supporter of the National United Party government of Walter Lini's brother Ham Lini which lasted from December 2004 through the September 2008 elections. After a short break from participation in the coalition government, the party returned in July 2007 when its leader, former Prime Minister Edward Natapei, became deputy prime minister. The party had a strong result in the September 2008 elections, gaining 11 of the 52 results, making this party the largest one in Parliament and allowing Natapei to return as prime minister. The Vanua'aku Party now leads the governing coalition, which continues to include Ham Lini's National United Party. [1]

The name of the Vanua'aku Party means "Party of Our land" in English (from the word vanua). It supports socialist economic policies and is mostly supported by English speakers.

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