2015 Port Vila by-election

2015 Port Vila by-election
15 October 2015
  First party Second party
 
VAN
Candidate Kenneth Natapei Ishmael Kalsakau
Party Vanua'aku Independent
Popular vote 4,600 3,205
Percentage 44.95% 31.32%
Swing Increase31.58pp Increase27.70pp
MP before election

Edward Natapei
Vanua'aku

Elected MP

Kenneth Natapei
Vanua'aku

A by-election to the Parliament of Vanuatu was held in the constituency of Port-Vila (the capital city) on 15 October 2015. It followed the death of sitting MP (former Prime Minister, and incumbent Leader of the Opposition[1]) Edward Natapei, of the centre-left Vanua'aku Pati. Natapei died after a long illness in July. Although Port-Vila is a multi-member constituency, only one seat was vacant, and therefore only one new member was elected.

Candidates

The parliamentary Opposition parties (Vanua'aku Pati, National United Party, Melanesian Progressive Party, Land and Justice Party, Nagriamel, and Reunification Movement for Change) agreed to endorse a single candidate: Natapei's eldest son, Kenneth Natapei, also of the Vanua'aku Pati. On the government side, the Union of Moderate Parties (centre-right) also initially endorsed Kenneth Natapei,[2][3][4] before putting forward its own candidate. Ultimately, five other candidates took part in the election alongside Natapei : Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau (independent), Nadia Kanegai (People's Progressive Party), Allan Carlot (Natatok), Georgie Calo (Union of Moderate Parties) and Jocelyn Mete (independent).[5]

Results

With a low turnout (approx. 27.6%), Kenneth Natapei was declared the winner by a clear margin.[6][7] Following the unseating of fourteen members of Parliament upon conviction for bribery, however, President Baldwin Lonsdale dissolved Parliament on 24 November, and called a snap general election. Natapei had not yet been sworn in.[8] He held his seat in the ensuing general election, which also saw by-election candidate Ishmael Kalsakau feature among Port-Vila's six elected representatives.[9]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Kenneth NatapeiVanua'aku Pati4,60044.95
Ishmael KalsakauIndependent3,20531.32
Nadia KanegaiPeople's Progressive Party9749.52
Georgie CaloUnion of Moderate Parties9188.97
Allan CarlotNatatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party3803.71
Jocelyn MeteIndependent1561.52
Total10,233100.00
Valid votes10,23399.97
Invalid/blank votes30.03
Total votes10,236100.00
Registered voters/turnout37,32427.42
Source: [7]

References

  1. ^ "Queues form to vote in Vanuatu by-election", Radio New Zealand, 15 October 2015
  2. ^ "Young Natapei is VP candidate for by-election", Vanuatu Daily Post, 1 September 2015
  3. ^ "Kenneth Natapei nominated for Port Vila By-Election 2015", Yumi Toktok Street, 20 August 2015
  4. ^ Vanuatu Daily News Digest Archived 2015-09-19 at the Wayback Machine, 4 September 2015
  5. ^ "Six candidates for Port Vila by-election", Vanuatu Daily Post, 12 September 2015
  6. ^ "Kenneth Natapei unofficial winner in Vanuatu by-election", Radio New Zealand, 16 October 2015
  7. ^ a b "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS IN NATAPEI'S FAVOUR", Vanuatu Daily Post, 16 October 2015
  8. ^ "Former Vanuatu MP continues serving people despite dissolution", Radio New Zealand, 26 November 2015
  9. ^ "Official results – 2016 Vanuatu General Election" Archived 2016-03-10 at the Wayback Machine, Vanuatu Daily Digest, 1 February 2016