From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
Prime Minister of Vanuatu
Head of government of the Republic of Vanuatu
Head of government of the Republic of Vanuatu
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| post | Prime Minister |
| body | Vanuatu |
| native_name | |
| insignia | Coat of arms of Vanuatu.svg |
| insigniacaption | Coat of arms of Vanuatu |
| image | Jotham Napat 2019 (cropped).jpg |
| incumbent | Jotham Napat |
| incumbentsince | 11 February 2025 |
| termlength | for as long as the Prime Minister has the confidence of Parliament |
| constituting_instrument | Constitution of Vanuatu |
| formation | 30 July 1980 |
| first | Walter Lini |
| salary | Vt 67,846 weekly (32,295 USD annually) |
| website | https://ogcio.gov.vu/ |
The prime minister of Vanuatu is the head of government of the Republic of Vanuatu.
The office of prime minister was created under the Constitution of Vanuatu upon the country's independence in 1980, with independence campaigner Walter Lini becoming the first office-holder. The position is sometimes seen as a continuation of the older office of Chief Minister, which existed before Vanuatu obtained its independence. According to the Constitution, the prime minister is elected by the Parliament, of which s/he must be a member. The prime minister directly appoints or dismisses members of the Council of Ministers (cabinet ministers).
So far 13 men have served as Prime Minister of Vanuatu, some on multiple occasions.
The current prime minister is Jotham Napat from the Leaders Party of Vanuatu, since 11 February 2025.
Disputes
In November 2009, Prime Minister Edward Natapei was briefly declared by the Speaker to have lost his seat over a procedural technicality. The courts invalidated the ruling, and Natapei regained his seat, and thus the premiership.
Serge Vohor's fourth term in office, from April to May 2011, is included in the list below, although his election to the premiership was voided as unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal on 13 May, on the grounds that he had been elected only by a majority of members of Parliament (26 out of 52), not by an absolute majority. Ralph Regenvanu, who regained his position as Minister for Justice after the annulment of Vohor's premiership, stated: "Prime Minister Serge Vohor and his cabinet are illegal, null and void and were never the government of the country."
Similarly, Sato Kilman's term is included although it was also voided, by a ruling from Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek on 16 June 2011, finding that Kilman's election in December 2010 had not been in conformity with the requirements for a secret parliamentary ballot set out in article 41 of the Constitution. Thus, following Edward Natapei's ousting in a valid motion of no confidence in December 2010, Vanuatu had no lawfully constituted government until Natapei was restored in June with instructions from the court to convene Parliament for the election of a prime minister. This was done on 26 June, resulting in Sato Kilman's election to the premiership by Parliament – his first legally recognised term as prime minister.
List of prime ministers
| No. | Portrait | Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political party | Elected | Government | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | 1 | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | – | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | 2 | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | 3 | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | (2) | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | (3) | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | 4 | Melanesian Progressive Party}}; color:white;" | 5 | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | 6 | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | (3) | National United Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | 7 | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | (6) | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | – | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | (6) | People’s Progressive Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | 8 | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | (3) | People’s Progressive Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | (8) | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | – | People’s Progressive Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | (8) | Green Confederation}}; color:white;" | 9 | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | 10 | People’s Progressive Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | (8) | Reunification Movement for Change}}; color:white;" | 11 | Vanua'aku Party}}; color:white;" | 12 | Union of Moderate Parties}}; color:white;" | 13 | People’s Progressive Party (Vanuatu)}}; color:black;" | (8) | Reunification Movement for Change}}; color:white;" | (11) | Leaders Party of Vanuatu}}; color:white;" | 14 |
| Walter Lini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1942–1999) | 30 July 1980 | 6 September 1991 | Vanua'aku Pati | 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Lini I–II–III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Donald-kalpokas-profile.jpg | 90px]] | Donald Kalpokas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1943–2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting | 6 September 1991 | 16 December 1991 | Vanua'aku Pati | – | Lini III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:No image.svg | 90px]] | Maxime Carlot Korman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1941) | 16 December 1991 | 21 December 1995 | Union of Moderate Parties | 1991 | Korman I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rialuth Serge Vohor (Imagicity 1307) (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Serge Vohor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1955–2024) | 21 December 1995 | 23 February 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Union of Moderate Parties | 1995 | Vohor I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:No image.svg | 90px]] | Maxime Carlot Korman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1941) | 23 February 1996 | 30 September 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Union of Moderate Parties | — | Korman II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rialuth Serge Vohor (Imagicity 1307) (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Serge Vohor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1955–2024) | 30 September 1996 | 30 March 1998 | Union of Moderate Parties | — | Vohor II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Donald-kalpokas-profile.jpg | 90px]] | Donald Kalpokas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1943–2019) | 30 March 1998 | 25 November 1999 | Vanua'aku Pati | 1998 | Kalpokas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Barak Sope 2000.jpg | 90px]] | Barak Sopé | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1955) | 25 November 1999 | 13 April 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Resigned) | Melanesian Progressive Party | — | Sopé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edward Natapei 2009.jpg | 90px]] | Edward Natapei | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1954–2015) | 13 April 2001 | 29 July 2004 | Vanua'aku Pati | 2002 | Natapei I–II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rialuth Serge Vohor (Imagicity 1307) (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Serge Vohor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1955–2024) | 29 July 2004 | 11 December 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Union of Moderate Parties | 2004 | Vohor III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Ham Lini.jpg | 90px]] | Ham Lini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1951–2025) | 11 December 2004 | 22 September 2008 | National United Party | — | Lini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edward Natapei 2009.jpg | 90px]] | Edward Natapei | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1954–2015) | 22 September 2008 | 27 November 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Removed) | Vanua'aku Pati | 2008 | Natapei III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rialuth Serge Vohor (Imagicity 1307) (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Serge Vohor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1955–2024) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting | 27 November 2009 | 5 December 2009 | Union of Moderate Parties | — | Natapei III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edward Natapei 2009.jpg | 90px]] | Edward Natapei | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1954–2015) | 5 December 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Reinstated) | 2 December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Vanua'aku Pati | — | Natapei III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sato Kilman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Sato Kilman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1957) | 2 December 2010 | 24 April 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | People's Progressive Party | — | Kilman I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rialuth Serge Vohor (Imagicity 1307) (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Serge Vohor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1955–2024) | 24 April 2011 | 13 May 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Removed) | Union of Moderate Parties | — | Vohor IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sato Kilman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Sato Kilman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1957) | 13 May 2011 | 16 June 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Removed) | People's Progressive Party | — | Kilman II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edward Natapei 2009.jpg | 90px]] | Edward Natapei | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1954–2015) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acting | 16 June 2011 | 26 June 2011 | Vanua'aku Pati | — | Interim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sato Kilman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Sato Kilman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1957) | 26 June 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Reinstated) | 23 March 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Resigned) | People's Progressive Party | 2012 | Kilman III–IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Moana Carcasses Kalosil 2013 (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Moana Carcasses Kalosil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1963) | 23 March 2013 | 15 May 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Green Confederation | — | Carcasses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Joe Natuman 2014 (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Joe Natuman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1952) | 15 May 2014 | 11 June 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Vote of no confidence) | Vanua'aku Pati | — | Natuman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sato Kilman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Sato Kilman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1957) | 11 June 2015 | 11 February 2016 | People's Progressive Party | — | Kilman V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Charlot Salwai, ITU Telecom World 2016 (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Charlot Salwai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1963) | 11 February 2016 | 20 April 2020 | Reunification Movement for Change | 2016 | Salwai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Bob Loughman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Bob Loughman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1961) | 20 April 2020 | 4 November 2022 | Vanua'aku Pati | 2020 | Loughman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Ishmael Alatoi Kalsakau opposition (profile).png | 90px]] | Ishmael Kalsakau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 19??) | 4 November 2022 | 4 September 2023 | Union of Moderate Parties | 2022 | Kalsakau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sato Kilman (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Sato Kilman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1957) | 4 September 2023 | 6 October 2023 | People's Progressive Party | — | Kilman VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Charlot Salwai, ITU Telecom World 2016 (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Charlot Salwai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1963) | 6 October 2023 | 11 February 2025 | Reunification Movement for Change | — | Salwai II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Jotham Napat 2019 (cropped).jpg | 90px]] | Jotham Napat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1972) | 11 February 2025 | Incumbent | Leaders Party of Vanuatu | 2025 | Napat |
Timeline
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:12 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:100 right:150 left:20 AlignBars = late
Colors = id:Ind value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) legend:Independent id:VP value:rgb(0,0.52,0) legend:Vanua'aku_Pati id:UMP value:rgb(0.01,0.63,0.91) legend:Union_of_Moderate_Parties id:MPP value:rgb(0.87,0.22,0.22) legend:Melanesian_Progressive_Party id:NUP value:rgb(0.99,0.8,0.02) legend:National_United_Party id:PPP value:rgb(0.85,0.75,0.85) legend:People's_Progressive_Party id:Green value:rgb(0.38,0.74,0.37) legend:Green_Confederation id:RMC value:rgb(0.95,0.42,0.15) legend:Reunification_Movement_for_Change id:LPV value:rgb(0.23,0.67,0.28) legend:Leaders_Party_of_Vanuatu id:liteline value:gray(0.8) id:line value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3) id:bg value:white
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85) id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1980 till:31/12/ TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:10 start:1980 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1980
Legend = columns:1 left:110 top:57 columnwidth:220
Define $now =
TextData = pos:(20,57) textcolor:black fontsize:s text:"Political Affiliation:"
BarData = bar:WalterLin̄i bar:Kalpokas bar:Korman bar:Vohor bar:Sopé bar:Natapei bar:HamLin̄i bar:Kilman bar:Carcasses bar:Natuman bar:Salwai bar:Loughman bar:Kalsakau bar:Napat
PlotData = width:5 align:left fontsize:s shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
bar:WalterLin̄i from: 30/07/1980 till: 06/09/1991 color:VP text:"Walter Lin̄i" bar:Kalpokas from: 06/09/1991 till: 16/12/1991 color:VP from: 30/03/1998 till: 25/11/1999 color:VP text:"Donald Kalpokas" bar:Korman from: 16/12/1991 till: 21/12/1995 color:UMP from: 23/02/1996 till: 30/09/1996 color:UMP text:"Maxime Carlot Korman" bar:Vohor from: 21/12/1995 till: 23/02/1996 color:UMP from: 30/09/1996 till: 30/03/1998 color:UMP from: 29/07/2004 till: 11/12/2004 color:UMP from: 27/11/2009 till: 05/12/2009 color:UMP from: 24/04/2011 till: 13/05/2011 color:UMP text:"Serge Vohor" bar:Sopé from: 25/11/1999 till: 13/04/2001 color:MPP text:"Barak Sopé" bar:Natapei from: 13/04/2001 till: 29/07/2004 color:VP from: 22/09/2008 till: 27/11/2009 color:VP from: 05/12/2009 till: 02/12/2010 color:VP from: 16/06/2011 till: 26/06/2011 color:VP text:"Edward Natapei" bar:HamLin̄i from: 11/12/2004 till: 22/09/2008 color:NUP text:"Ham Lin̄i" bar:Kilman from: 02/12/2010 till: 24/04/2011 color:PPP from: 13/05/2011 till: 16/06/2011 color:PPP from: 26/06/2011 till: 23/03/2013 color:PPP from: 11/06/2015 till: 11/02/2016 color:PPP from: 04/09/2023 till: 06/10/2023 color:PPP text:"Sato Kilman" bar:Carcasses from: 23/03/2013 till: 15/05/2014 color:Green text:"Moana Carcasses Kalosil" bar:Natuman from: 15/05/2014 till: 11/06/2015 color:VP text:"Joe Natuman" bar:Salwai from: 11/02/2016 till: 20/04/2020 color:RMC from: 06/10/2023 till: 11/02/2025 color:RMC text:"Charlot Salwai" bar:Loughman from: 20/04/2020 till: 04/11/2022 color:VP text:"Bob Loughman" bar:Kalsakau from: 04/11/2022 till: 04/09/2023 color:UMP text:"Ishmael Kalsakau" bar:Napat from: 11/02/2025 till: $now color:LPV text:"Jotham Napat"
References
References
- (1 July 2017). "Official Salaries not something to keep mum about - News - dailypost.vu".
- [http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5359/Natapei-retains-seat-CJ-rules.aspx "Natapei retains seat: CJ rules"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 7 December 2009{{dead link. (September 2013)
- [http://www.dailypost.vu/ArticleArchives/tabid/56/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5421/PM-Natapei-defeats-motion-with-36-MPs.aspx "PM Natapei defeats motion with 36 MPs"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 11 December 2009{{dead link. (September 2013)
- [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201105/s3216539.htm "Vanuatu Court decision results in change of government"], ABC Radio Australia, 13 May 2011
- (16 June 2011). "Vanuatu Court rules Kilman election void, reinstates Natapei as interim PM". [[Radio New Zealand International]].
- link. (28 June 2011)
- (27 June 2011). "Kilman elected Vanuatu PM - ten days after ouster by court". [[Radio New Zealand International]].
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about Prime Minister of Vanuatu — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report