New coalition govt finalised in Vanuatu

Five political parties in Vanuatu have agreed to form the country's next coalition government following a snap election over a week ago.

The Leaders Party, Vanua'aku Party, Graon Mo Jastis Party, Reunification Movement for Change, and Iauko Group signed a memorandum of agreement in Port Vila on Monday.

The next prime minister will likely be one of the party leaders: incumbent prime minister Charlot Salwai, incumbent climate minister Ralph Regenvanu, Marc Ati, Jotham Napat, or Johnny Koanapo.

The vote was held on 16 January despite a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that devastated the capital, Port Vila, a week before Christmas.

The 17 December quake claimed 14 lives, injured 200 people, and displaced thousands more.

It has been over a week since the election and ni-Vanuatu are still awaiting the official results, which are expected to be released this week.

Despite the delay, the five political parties signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on forming the next government.

The vote was called in November after Vanuatu's President Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolved parliament due to a no-confidence motion against him and Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

Preliminary results from the recent snap election indicate that this coalition has more than enough seats to secure a majority in the 52-seat parliament.

Over 180,000 voters participated in the election.

Vanuatu has experienced 18 months of political instability, witnessing three changes in prime ministers.

Stevenson Liu, head of news at the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation, says full results are expected this week.

"The electoral office started verifications over 400 ballot boxes, and over 15 staff are doing all the verifications since yesterday," he told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

"Now, the process is that they will verify all the records from the presiding officers. They don't need to recount unless there are differences in the counting."

Photo/Supplied

Located some 2900km north of New Zealand, Vanuatu has a population of about 335,000.

Vila residents are still reeling from last month's deadly earthquake, and Liu says, "Life hasn't returned to normal.

"A lot of people are still without jobs. People are not turning up for business because the central business district is still locked off. So, life is not, hasn't returned to normal."

Full election results are expected to be released late Wednesday.