The five political parties sign agreement to form the next government. 27 January 2025 Photo: Facebook / YTS News
The leaders of five political parties in Vanuatu have agreed to form the next coalition government.
They are the Leaders Party, Vanua'aku Party, Graon Mo Jastis Party, Reunification Movement for Change, and the Iauko Group.
The leaders signed a memorandum of agreement in Port Vila on Monday.
Official results from the snap election earlier this month are expected to be declared Tuesday, but based on preliminary results, the bloc has more than enough seats to rule. They have over 30 seats between them, with only 27 needed for a majority in the 52 seat parliament.
This also means the next prime minister of Vanuatu will likely be one of the five party presidents: Jotham Napat (Leaders Party), Johnny Koanapo (Vanua'aku Pati), Charlot Salwai (Reunification Movement for Change), Ralph Regenvanu (Graon Mo Jastis Pati), Marc Ati, (Iauko Group).
More than 180,000 Ni-Vanuatu voters cast their ballots in the 16 January snap elections, one month after the deadly 7.3 earthquake that struck the capital Port Vila.
