One woman MP elected in Vanuatu poll as parties tussle to form government

Vanuatu will have one female member of parliament after official results from a snap election earlier this month were released ahead of parliament resuming for the formation of government.

Almost a third of the legislature's 52 MPs were replaced and no party gained a majority, with negotiations now underway to create a coalition government.

Parliament will sit on Feb. 11 when the new prime minister will be elected. 

The election was held despite a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December which destroyed major buildings and infrastructure in the capital Port Vila and caused an estimated US$244 million [VUV29 billion] in damage.

Mary Louise Milne won a seat in the Port Vila electorate, making her the only women’s voice in the chamber after the only incumbent female MP Julia King was voted out.

There were only seven women in the field of 217 candidates and she is only the seventh female to become an MP since independence.

Milne’s supporters celebrated and community leaders hailed her election as a victory not just for women but the electorate as a whole.

“Her leadership is recognized by many in our community and she spends her time helping young people and women in our community,” local Chief Roger Tari of the Freshwata community told BenarNews. “This is a dream come true for us.”

He said Milne has a strong track record as a Port Vila town councillor and in her most recent role as deputy lord mayor.

Her main campaign policies focussed on earthquake recovery, job creation for youth and improving access to health services for all women. She is a sole representative of her party but expected to join a party in the coalition government.

The tussle for who will govern the Pacific island nation of 335,000 people is now underway.

Official results released on Wednesday show the Leaders Party led by Jotham Napat has 11 MPs and will be the largest group in parliament.

Five political parties – Vanua'aku Pati, Reunification Movement for Change, Ground mo Justice Party, Leaders Party, and Iauko group – have signed a memorandum of understanding to form government. 

Six independents are expected to affiliate themselves with these parties, creating a bloc of about 36 MPs. Many were members of the previous coalition government.

Political heavyweights Charlot Salwai, Ishmael Kalsakau, Ralph Regenvanu and Johnny Koanapo were all returned. 

Salwai, the former prime minister and leader of Reunification Movement for Change, told BenarNews he has no ambition to take up the top job again. 

Competition to lead the country is expected to see a run-off between Napat and the other party leaders; Johnny Koanapoa, Mark Ati, and Ralph Regenvanu.

The Union of Moderate Parties, led by another former prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau, and the Rural Development party are expected to form the opposition.

Kalsakau told national broadcaster VBTC it was too early to determine who will form the next government or be prime minister.

Voter turnout was 69%, the highest participation rate since a poll in 2008 and after it dipped below 50% for the first time since independence at the 2022 election.

Electoral law reform allowing people to vote at any polling station helped contribute to the huge turnout, the Electoral Commission said.