REPUBLIC OF VANUATU Official name: Republic of Vanuatu / République du Vanuatu / Ripablik blong Vanuatu Location: Pacific International organisations: African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, The Commonwealth of Nations, The Non-Aligned Movement, Pacific Islands Forum, The United Nations Borders: None Coastline: Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean Land area: 12,200 Km2 Population: 200,000 Ethnicity: Almost the entire population is of Melanesian stock. There are small European and Chinese minorities. Languages: English, French and a local English pidgin called Bislama are the official languages, but English is the language of government, media and business. Many Melanesian languages are spoken. Religion: Most of the population are Christians, the majority Protestant. Many people follow indigenous cults. Form of government: Parliamentary democratic republic. Vanuatu is divided into six provinces. Capital: Port Vila Constitution: The Constitution of Vanuatu came into effect on 30 July 1980.

Head of state: The President, chosen for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of the legislature and the presidents of the regional councils. President Kalkot Matas Kelekele (or Kalkot Mataskelekele) took office on 16 August 2004.
Head of government: The Prime Minister, appointed by the President. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the legislature and is accountable to it.
Legislature: Vanuatu has a unicameral legislature, the Parliament, which has 52 members elected for four-year terms from non-proportional multi-member constituencies.
Electoral authority: The Vanuatu Election Commission administers elections.
Freedom House rating: Political Rights 1, Civil Liberties 2

Political history

The Melanesian islands were first discovered by the Portuguese explorer, Pedro Fernández de Quirós, in 1606. They were rediscovered by James Cook in 1774, and named by him the New Hebrides. During the 19th century the islands were partly colonised by missionaries, planters and traders, and increasing competition between British and French interests led to the establishment of joint British-French rule, known as the condominium. In 1887 the islands were placed under an Anglo-French naval commission. The commission was replaced by a condominium in 1906.

Constitutional development began in the 1970s, but independence was delayed by the desire of the French to secure a dominant position for the French-speaking minority, and prevent the English-language New Hebrides National Party (later the Vanuaaku Pati) coming to power. In 1979 the French fomented a revolt on the island of Espiritu Santo was put down with aid from Papua New Guinea and Britain. Elections were then held and the islands became independent in 1980. The Vanuaaku Pati under Walter Lini held power until 1991, but since the the party system has fragmented and government has become increasingly unstable. The Vanuaku Pati is still the largest patrty, but no longer has a majority. The main opposition party is the French-language Union of Moderate Parties (UPM).