Vanuatu Profiel Gouvernement

name: Port-Vila (on Efate)

geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E

time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

30 Juli 1980 (from France and the UK)

Independence Day, 30 Juli (1980)

history: draft completed Augustus 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 Oktober 1979, effective 30 Juli 1980 at independence

amendments: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2013 (2019)

18 jaar; universal

chief of state: President Tallis Obed MOSES (since 6 July 2017)

head of government: Prime Minister Charlot SALWAI (since 11 February 2016)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; Vanuatu president serves a 5-year term; election last held on 17 June 2017 (next to be held in 2022); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held on 11 February 2016 (next to be held following general elections in 2020)

election results: Baldwin LONSDALE (independent) died suddenly on 17 June 2017; Parliament elected Tallis Obed MOSES on 6 July 2017 with a 39 to 17 vote in the fourth round; Charlot SALWAI elected prime minister on 11 February 2016 with 46 votes