Vanuatuan general election, 1998
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Vanuatu |
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 | 162 | 0.2 | 0 | –1 |
Other parties | 299 | 1.1 | 0 | – |
Independents | 10,067 | 14.6 | 2 | 0 |
Invalid/blank votes | 413 | – | – | – |
Total | 69,375 | 100 | 52 | +2 |
Registered voters/turnout | 112,610 | 61.6 | – | – |
Source: Nohlen et al. |