The Government and Political System in Vanuatu

The people of Vanuatu are governed through a parliamentary representative system type of government alongside a multi-party system, which of course was copied from the British where they got independence from in 1980.

At the helm of Vanuatu is an elected president who enjoys a mandate of a 5-year term to lead the country. A president must be elected by an electoral college. The electoral college of Vanuatu has also the power to remove a sitting president should a grave misconduct be proven.  The president however is more of a ceremonial position as the Prime Minister is the effective head of the government. The only power vested on a president is the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court along with three other Justices.

In most countries, the prime minister is usually appointed by the president or by a monarch, but in Vanuatu, the prime minister is elected by the members of its Parliament. Effectively, it is the prime minister who is calling the shots in the executive branch. He appoints the cabinet members and as well as the executive officers who heads the provincial governments. These provincial heads also become members of the Electoral College.  

The legislative branch is composed of 52 members whose terms last only for four years. Aside from the Parliament, the Malvatu Mauri or the Council of Chiefs are also present to give advises on all matters concerning Vanuatu’s culture and language concerns.

The judicial branch follows the usual model of most countries where a Supreme Court has the last and final decision. Vanuatu’s Supreme Court is composed to a Chief Justice and three other Justices or Judges. The lower courts are also called Magistrate Courts. However, Vanuatu also honors the decisions of the local ethnic chiefs but only if the people concerned belong to ethnic groups.