t held 2 March 1994 (next to be held
NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by
Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last
held 30 September 1996 (next to be held NA November 1999); note - the
general legislative elections in November 1995 did not give a majority
to any of the political parties; since the election, there have been
three changes of government - all of which have been coalitions formed
by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR was prime minister from
November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996 when faced with a
no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime Carlot KORMAN was then
elected prime minister and served until he was ousted in a
no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR was then elected
prime minister for a second time
election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of
electoral college vote - NA; Serge VOHOR elected prime minister by a
Parliamentary vote of 28 to 22

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (50 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections : last held 30 November 1995 (next to be held NA November
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP
17, VP 14, NUP 9, MPP 5, TU 2, Na-Griamel Movement 1, Friend
Melanesian Party 1, independent 1; note - political party associations
are fluid; there have been three changes of government since the
November 1995 elections
note : the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and
land

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the
president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of
the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on
the advice of the Judicial Service Commission

Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge
VOHOR; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Vanuatu Party (VP),
Donald KALPOKAS; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; Tan
Union (TU), Vincent BOULEKONE; Na-Griamel Movement, Frankie STEVENS;
Friend Melanesian Party, Albert RAUUTIA

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representatio