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2015 Port Vila by-election

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2015 Port Vila by-election

15 October 2015
  First party Second party
 
VAN
Candidate Kenneth Natapei Ishmael Kalsakau
Party Vanua'aku Independent
Popular vote 4,600 3,205
Percentage 44.95% 31.32%
Swing Increase31.58pp Increase27.70pp

MP before election

Edward Natapei
Vanua'aku

Elected MP

Kenneth Natapei
Vanua'aku

A by-election to the Parliament of Vanuatu was held in the constituency of Port-Vila (the capital city) on 15 October 2015. It followed the death of sitting MP (former Prime Minister, and incumbent Leader of the Opposition[1]) Edward Natapei, of the centre-left Vanua'aku Pati. Natapei died after a long illness in July. Although Port-Vila is a multi-member constituency, only one seat was vacant, and therefore only one new member was elected.

Candidates

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The parliamentary Opposition parties (Vanua'aku Pati, National United Party, Melanesian Progressive Party, Land and Justice Party, Nagriamel, and Reunification Movement for Change) agreed to endorse a single candidate: Natapei's eldest son, Kenneth Natapei, also of the Vanua'aku Pati. On the government side, the Union of Moderate Parties (centre-right) also initially endorsed Kenneth Natapei,[2][3][4] before putting forward its own candidate. Ultimately, five other candidates took part in the election alongside Natapei : Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau (independent), Nadia Kanegai (People's Progressive Party), Allan Carlot (Natatok), Georgie Calo (Union of Moderate Parties) and Jocelyn Mete (independent).[5]

Results

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With a low turnout (approx. 27.6%), Kenneth Natapei was declared the winner by a clear margin.[6][7] Following the unseating of fourteen members of Parliament upon conviction for bribery, however, President Baldwin Lonsdale dissolved Parliament on 24 November, and called a snap general election. Natapei had not yet been sworn in.[8] He held his seat in the ensuing general election, which also saw by-election candidate Ishmael Kalsakau feature among Port-Vila's six elected representatives.[9]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Kenneth NatapeiVanua'aku Pati4,60044.95
Ishmael KalsakauIndependent3,20531.32
Nadia KanegaiPeople's Progressive Party9749.52
Georgie CaloUnion of Moderate Parties9188.97
Allan CarlotNatatok Indigenous People's Democratic Party3803.71
Jocelyn MeteIndependent1561.52
Total10,233100.00
Valid votes10,23399.97
Invalid/blank votes30.03
Total votes10,236100.00
Registered voters/turnout37,32427.42
Source: [7]

References

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