Official results are some days away, but there are early suggestions, the two main parties in the outgoing coalition, Vanua’aku and the National United Party, could be in a position to lead again.
But Edward Natapei, who is the leader of Vanua’aku Pati, said the formation of a new government would depend on the final count. He said they would have to allow for new people who have come in to negotiate agreements.
“When you look at the new people who have come in, they have their own agendas and their own policies,” he said. “So to try and negotiate an agreement this time, we are going to have to really consider seriously their policies. And judging from the way they’ve been coming across, they not just going to accept any leader. They’ll probably want to see some commitment from the old guard.”
Natapei said there was n understanding that the coalition partners would work together again, if they have the numbers.
Meanwhile, one of Vanuatu’s longest serving politicians, who appear to have lost his seat in the country’s elections has accepted the decision as the will of the people.
The country voted on Tuesday to elect members to its 52 seat parliament early unofficial results suggest that Willie Jimmy, the serving minister of finance, who has been an MP for more than 20 years, has been ousted.
He said there’s a mood for change, especially among the youth, and he hopes it would benefit Vanuatu.
“The will of the people has spoken, the judges have made their decisions, and I believe that the decision that was taken by the people was fair, because of democracy that we believe in, and that’s how it stands, and we stand by it,” he said.
Jimmy said the move by his party, the National United Party, to put up two candidates in the Port Vila constituency was his downfall, because it split the votes.
