2020 Vanuatuan general election

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All 52 seats in Parliament 27 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader % Seats +/– Leaders Party Jotham Napat 12.49 5 +4 Vanua'aku Pati Bob Loughman 12.12 7 +1 RMC Charlot Salwai 11.32 7 +4 Land & Justice Ralph Regenvanu 10.00 9 +2 UMP Ishmael Kalsakau 7.67 5 −1 National United Ham Lin̄i 3.73 4 0 Green Confederation Moana Carcasses Kalosil 2.52 1 −1 Rural Development Jay Ngwele 2.50 2 New Liberal Movement Gaetan Pikioune 2.19 1 New Nagriamel Song Keaspai 2.07 1 −2 Iauko Group Harry Iauko 1.98 2 −2 People's Progressive Sato Kilman 1.85 1 0 Vanuatu First Russel Nari 1.47 1 New National Development Christophe Emelee 1.46 1 0 PUDP 1.30 1 New Cultural Self-reliance Samson Samsen 1.14 1 New Vemarana 1.05 1 +1 NCM 0.90 1 New Progressive Development 0.57 1 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Charlot Salwai RMC Bob Loughman Vanua'aku Pati

Politics of Vanuatu
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General elections were held in Vanuatu on 19–20 March 2020.^[1] The elections were initially intended to be held on 19 March, but logistical problems resulted in some areas voting the following day.^[2]

Electoral system

The 52 members of Parliament were elected from eight single-member constituencies and ten multi-member constituencies (of between two and seven seats) by first-past-the-post and single non-transferable vote, respectively.^[3]

Campaign

The Vanua'aku Pati launched its campaign slogan 'Lets Rebuild Vanuatu' in June 2019 and endorsed the continuation of its Kambak ("come back") policy.^[4]

In October 2019, a 'Vot Woman' campaign was launched, supporting all female candidates and calling for guaranteed 50% representation for women in parliament.^[5] No women were elected in the 2012 or 2016 elections. There were around 15 female candidates,^[6] but none were elected. The youngest woman candidate in 2020 was Litiana Kalsrap.^[7]

An important issue was the future of the lucrative but controversial citizenship by investment, or “passport sales” programs. For a price of about US $150,000, these schemes allow applicants to become citizens in months, without setting foot in the country.^[8]

Results

Although there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the islands, there were concerns that fears of the pandemic could keep turnout low. Turnout at the previous election was about 57%.^[8]

Unofficial results were gradually released over the following days, with official results being announced later than usual, on 6 April, due to the death of the Chairman of the Vanuatu Electoral Commission, Martin Tete.^[9] No women were elected.^[10] Nineteen parties won one or more seats, with the Land and Justice Party becoming the largest with nine of the 52 seats. Turnout was down six percentage points from the prior elections in 2016.

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	17,992	12.49	5	+4
	Vanua'aku Pati	17,460	12.12	7	+1
	Reunification Movement for Change	16,298	11.32	7	+4
	Land and Justice Party	14,400	10.00	9	+2
	Union of Moderate Parties	11,043	7.67	5	–1
	National United Party	5,377	3.73	4	0
	Green Confederation	3,623	2.52	1	–1
	Rural Development Party	3,600	2.50	2	New
	Vanuatu Liberal Movement	3,147	2.19	1	New
	Nagriamel	2,980	2.07	1	–2
	Vanuatu Labour Party	2,866	1.99	0	–1
	Iauko Group	2,847	1.98	2	–2
	People's Progressive Party	2,664	1.85	1	0
	Vanuatu First Party	2,112	1.47	1	New
	Vanuatu National Development Party	2,102	1.46	1	–1
	People Unity Development Party	1,870	1.30	1	New
	Vanuatu Cultural Self-reliance Movement	1,637	1.14	1	New
	New Nation Party	1,534	1.07	0	New
	Vemarana	1,506	1.05	1	+1
	Ngwasoanda Custom Movement	1,300	0.90	1	New
	Oceania Transformation Movement	1,252	0.87	0	New
	The People's Party	1,232	0.86	0	New
	Vanuatu Community Movement	1,028	0.71	0	New
	Friend Melanesian Party	996	0.69	0	–1
	Kia Koe Party	958	0.67	0	New
	Vanuatu Progressive Development Party	825	0.57	1	+1
	Upi Nafzan Iskei	729	0.51	0	New
	People's Services Party	700	0.49	0	–1
	Vanuatu People's Alliance for Change	602	0.42	0	New
	Natatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party	593	0.41	0	0
	Vanuatu Progressive Republican Farmer Party	512	0.36	0	0
	People's Democratic Party	505	0.35	0	New
	National Party	448	0.31	0	0
	Imaim	442	0.31	0	New
	UCVP Party	436	0.30	0	New
	Angai Tagaro	386	0.27	0	New
	Melanesian Progressive Party	327	0.23	0	0
	United Movements for Vanuatu People	315	0.22	0	New
	Vanuatu Presidential Party	294	0.20	0	–1
	Nodaru Masan Party	104	0.07	0	New
	Shepherds Alliance Party	80	0.06	0	0
	People's Action Party	77	0.05	0	0
	Namaki Ahute Kastom Movement	71	0.05	0	New
	People, Churches, Chiefs Party	70	0.05	0	New
	Vanuatu Liberal Party	54	0.04	0	New
	Movement for Righteousness, Justice and Peace	37	0.03	0	New
	Vanuatu Peoples for Change Party	19	0.01	0	New
	Vanuatu Reform Democratic Party	7	0.00	0	0
	Independents	14,546	10.10	0	–8
Total		144,003	100.00	52	0
Valid votes		144,003	99.27
Invalid/blank votes		1,061	0.73
Total votes		145,064	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		278,954	52.00
Source: Vanuatu Electoral Office, Election Report

By constituency

Aftermath

Due to the delay in announcing the official results, Parliament was unable to meet for its first sitting within the normal period of 21 days after the election, and instead met for the first time on 20 April.^[9] During the first meeting, Gracia Shadrack of the Leaders Party of Vanuatu was elected Speaker. Bob Loughman of the Vanua'aku Pati was elected Prime Minister, defeating former foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu of the Land and Justice Party by 31 votes to 21. Loughman's coalition government included the Vanua'aku Pati, the Union of Moderate Parties, the National United Party and other minor parties. The next day Loughman appointed the members of his government.^[11]

Subsequent by-elections

2021 Pentecost by-election

Caused by the conviction of incumbent Charlot Salwai for perjury. He was pardoned by President Tallis Obed Moses, allowing him to run for the seat.^[12] The election was held on 8 October 2021.^[13] It was won by Sumptoh Blaise Tabisurin of the Rural Development Party.