Vanuatuan general election, 1998

Vanuatu

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Politics and government of
Vanuatu



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General elections were held in Vanuatu on 6 March 1998. They "were held under the shadow of a state of emergency (the result of riots in Port Vila over governmental financial improprieties) and were accompanied by an unusually low turnout rate",[1] with only 61.6% of registered voters casting a ballot.[2]

The Vanua'aku Pati, led by Donald Kalpokas, obtained 18 seats. The ruling Union of Moderate Parties obtained 12, while the National United Party obtained 11, and the Melanesian Progressive Party 6.

The Vanua'aku Pati returned to power for the first time since 1991, forming a coalition with the NUP. Donald Kalpokas (VP) became Prime Minister, with Walter Lini (NUP) as deputy Prime Minister. The new government was exclusively anglophone, following the defeat of the francophone UMP.[1]

Results

Party Votes % Seats +/-
Vanua'aku Pati 14,467 21.0 18 +5
Union of Moderate Parties 13,833 20.1 12 -5
National United Party 10,947 15.9 11 +2
Melanesian Progressive Party 9,669 14.0 6 +1
Vanuatu Republican Party 5,232 7.6 1 New
John Frum Movement 1,539 2.2 2 New
People's Democratic Party 748 1.1 0 0
Movement Blong Yumi 656 1.0 0 New
Liberal Party 567 0.8 0 New
Vanuatu Women in Politics 488 0.7 0 0
Christian Independent Candidates 288 0.4 0 0
Nagriamel Custom Federation 162 0.2 0 -1
Other parties 299 1.1 0 -
Independents 10,067 14.6 2 0
Invalid/blank votes 492 - - -
Total 76,522 100 52 +2
Source: Nohlen et al

References

  1. ^ a b MILES, William F.S., Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8248-2048-7, p.27
  2. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p843 ISBN 0199249598