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Charlot Salwai elected as Vanuatu's PM

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Charlot Salwai was elected on Thursday as Vanuatu's new prime minister by the country's newly-elected parliament, the Pacific Islands News Association confirmed.

During the election held at Vanuatu's unicameral 52-seat parliament, Salwai, a veteran MP and head of the Reunification of Movements for Change party, became the only candidate for prime minister, garnering votes of 46 of the 52 MPs, with five void votes and one abstention.

In line with Vanuatu's constitution and parliament standing orders, a candidate for prime minister must obtain a simple majority of the total of 52 MPs to be elected.

Salwai heads a coalition named the Unity for Change, where there are at least 10 political parties. After his election, Salwai appointed former prime minister Joe Natuman as his deputy prime minister.

Earlier in the day, Esmon Saimon, who was also nominated by the Unity for Change coalition, was elected as the speaker of parliament.

Prior to his latest post, Salwai served as minister for internal affairs, minister for finance and economic management, minister for education, minister for lands and natural resources, and minister for trade and industry.

Vanuatu decided to hold a snap parliamentary election on Jan. 22 after its parliament was dissolved in November last year, which followed sentencings made against 15 MPs convicted of bribery. Enditem