1998 Vanuatuan general election

General elections were held in Vanuatu on 6 March 1998. They "were held under the shadow of a state of emergency (the result of riots in Port Vila over governmental financial improprieties) and were accompanied by an unusually low turnout rate",[1] with only 61.6% of registered voters casting a ballot.[2]

The Vanua'aku Pati, led by Donald Kalpokas, obtained 18 seats. The ruling Union of Moderate Parties obtained 12, while the National United Party obtained 11, and the Melanesian Progressive Party 6.

The Vanua'aku Pati returned to power for the first time since 1991, forming a coalition with the NUP. Donald Kalpokas (VP) became Prime Minister, with Walter Lini (NUP) as deputy Prime Minister. The new government was exclusively anglophone, following the defeat of the francophone UMP.[1]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Vanua'aku Pati	14,467	21.0	18	+5
Union of Moderate Parties	13,833	20.1	12	–5
National United Party	10,947	15.9	11	+2
Melanesian Progressive Party	9,669	14.0	6	+1
Vanuatu Republican Party	5,232	7.6	1	New
John Frum Movement	1,539	2.2	2	New
People's Democratic Party	748	1.1	0	0
Movement Blong Yumi	656	1.0	0	New
Liberal Party	567	0.8	0	New
Vanuatu Women in Politics	488	0.7	0	0
Vemarana	299	1.1	0	New
Christian Independent Candidates	288	0.4	0	0
Nagriamel	162	0.2	0	–1
Independents	10,067	14.6	2	0
Invalid/blank votes	413	–	–	–
Total	69,375	100	52	+2
Registered voters/turnout	112,610	61.6	–	–
Source: Official Gazette, Nohlen et al.

See also

• List of members of the Parliament of Vanuatu (1998–2002)

References

1. MILES, William F.S., Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998, ISBN 0-8248-2048-7, p.27
2. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p843 ISBN 0-19-924959-8