Vanuatu’s only incumbent female parliamentarian has lost her seat in a snap election leaving only one-woman candidate in contention after an unofficial vote count.
The unofficial counting at polling locations indicated the majority of the 52 incumbent MPs have been reelected but there are also some high-profile departures.
The election results will be confirmed by the official count of votes in the capital once all ballot boxes have been transported from electorates to Port Vila.
Former female MP Julia King from the Efate constituency has likely lost her seat.
She made international headlines in 2022 as the first woman elected in Vanuatu in more than a decade and only the sixth woman to serve in Parliament since the nation’s independence in 1980.
Marie Louis Milne, a candidate for the Port Vila constituency, has emerged as the only hope for a woman to sit in the chamber in the next term. Both Milne and a male candidate claim to have won the sixth and final seat in the electorate, based on the unofficial figures.
“The high number of voters supporting women is a positive indication of changing perceptions surrounding women’s leadership and decision-making,” Milne told BenarNews.
“There are numerous pressing issues we want to address in Parliament, including women’s health and their economic development.”
The possible lack of female representation is a disappointment for Vanuatu governance and development policy specialist Anna Naupa.
“We will wait for the official results, and if that turns out to be true, it is a sad reality for our country (that) women continue to face significant challenges in entering Parliament,” Naupa told BenarNews.
“This means the new legislature needs to pull up its socks to listen to all people, at every level of society.”
This election there were seven women among the 217 candidates contesting, matching the number in 2022 but down from 18 in 2020.
Leaders from seven parties were re-elected including former prime minister Charlot Salwai from the Reunification Movement for Change, former prime minister Ishmael Kalsakau of the Union of Moderate Party and former foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu of the Graon mo Jastis Pati.
“I am happy to return again and start working very soon; that’s all I have to say for now,” Regenvanu told BenarNews.
Other leaders thanked their voters on social media for their re-election.
Parliamentary standing orders require the first sitting of the house be convened within 21 days of the election.
Vanuatu has 18 constituencies with over 300 polling stations.
Unofficial results: 32 former MPs re-elected, 20 new faces in 14th Legislature
According to the unofficial results of the snap election held on 16 January 2025, in Vanuatu, eligible voters participated in electing 32 former Members of Parliament (MPs) and 20 new candidates to represent them in the 14th Legislature.
The fact that 20 former MPs lost their seats suggests noteworthy changes in voter preferences. Voters were likely seeking new leadership or were dissatisfied with the performance of the outgoing MPs.
The unofficial results of the snap election in Vanuatu indicate that several prominent former MPs lost their seats across various constituencies. Among those reportedly defeated are Christophe Emelee in the Torres Constituency, Jack Wona in Banks, Silas Bule in Pentecost, James Bule in Ambae, Joshua Pikioune and Sakias Lulu in Santo Rural. In Epi, John Nil was defeated, while in Malekula, Sato Kilman, Don Ken, and Esmon Saimon lost their seats. In Efate Rural, Jean Baptist Tama, Gloria Julia King, and Samuel Kalpoilep were not re-elected. Ulrich Sumptoh lost his seat in Port Vila, and in Tanna, Bob Loughman and Nako Natuman were defeated.
Among these, Saimon stands out as a particularly notable loss. A veteran politician from the Malekula constituency, Saimon had been one of the longest-serving MPs in Vanuatu, having been first elected in 1998 and re-elected consistently in subsequent elections (2002, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2022). His defeat in 2024 marks the end of an era for a well-established political figure.
This wave of losses could signify a shift in voter sentiment, with the electorate possibly seeking new leadership or moving away from long-serving politicians.
It is imperative to wait for the official declaration to ensure that the final list of elected representatives is accurate.
Bohn seeks PM position
A Member of Parliament elect for the Epi constituency, Robert Bohn, has requested all MP-elects through a letter to consider his candidacy for the position of Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
MP-elect Bohn, who is the founder of the Vanuatu Progressive Development Party (VPDP) stated in his letter that, despite unofficial results indicating that VPDP only has one successful candidate in the recent snap election, he humbly asks MPs-elect to consider his candidacy.
“I humbly ask you to consider my candidacy for Prime Minister, not because of who I am, but because of what I believe we can achieve together. As elected leaders, our mandate is clear—we must address the critical issues facing our nation in the grip of a deep economic crisis.”
In a copy of the letter received by the Vanuatu Daily Post Monday, MP-elect Bohn stated, “Today, we stand at a crossroads in Vanuatu’s history. Our country has faced parliamentary dissolutions three times in less than a decade—in 2016, 2022, and now in 2024. These cycles of instability have not only stalled progress but have also left our citizens—especially our youth—disheartened and disillusioned.
“I write to you not out of personal ambition, but with a vision for Vanuatu’s future… Government revenues are declining, expenditures and public debt are rising, and resources are stretched thin.
“Our capital city, Port Vila, bears the scars of natural disasters, and its reconstruction will demand significant effort and funding. Most troubling, the trust of our people in their leaders and institutions is waning. They see broken roads, inadequate healthcare, and missed opportunities, and they wonder if anyone is truly fighting for them.”
He stressed it is time to change the narrative.
“We need a government that prioritises practical, tangible solutions—fixing roads, building infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water, healthcare, and education. These are not luxuries; they are necessities.
“As a naturalised citizen of Vanuatu, I have devoted over 30 years of my life to this nation. I have worked alongside communities, built partnerships with donor organisations, and delivered projects that have made a real difference—from health dispensaries to water and sanitation initiatives. I have done this as a private citizen and as a representative of the people of Epi. Now, I am ready to bring that same dedication, network, and vision to the service of all Vanuatu.”
Bohn admitted his proposal may seem unconventional.
“After all, how can a single Member of Parliament aspire to lead as Prime Minister? Leadership, however, is not about numbers—it is about trust, capability, and the ability to unite. Our people are calling for a new kind of leadership, one that is inclusive, forward-thinking, and committed to the collective good,” he said.
“If entrusted with the role of PM, I pledge to form a government that reflects the diversity and unity of our nation. Together, we can chart a course that brings stability to our Parliament, renews faith in our institutions, and delivers meaningful progress for all Ni-Vanuatu.
The founder of VPDP quoted Albert Einstein’s saying, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.”
“These words… are a reminder that the challenges we face are not insurmountable; they are calls to action, moments demanding courageous leadership and bold ideas,” he stated.
Bohn is originally from the United States of America and is a naturalised citizen of Vanuatu. This is his second time in Vanuatu’s parliament.
Vanuatu Daily Post has received confirmation from the Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) President, Jotham Napat, affirming that he has received and read the letter.
“Do we no longer have indigenous MPs-elect that are capable of running this country?” LPV President Napat said.
The request by Epi MP-elect Bohn has already created division within MPs-elect, questioning why a naturalised citizen is requesting the candidacy for the highest position in the country—the Prime Minister.
In the meantime, winning political parties continue to lobby to form the new government in the 14th Legislature.