Vanuatu - May 2024

Voters approved two constitutional amendments aimed at improving political stability in a national referendum on 29 May. The amendments aim to bring political stability by weakening the ability of MPs to engage in the kind of behaviour that has made political stability endemic in the country, such as forming single-MP parties and changing partisan affiliation in order to obtain political favours, and in turn strengthen political parties. The two amendments, which were previously approved by parliament in December 2023, (a) require a member of parliament (MP) who leaves or resigns from her/his political party to also vacate the seat in parliament and (b) mandate that MPs who are elected but do not belong to a party join one within three months or vacate the seat. The first amendment was approved with 59 per cent of the vote and the second with 58 per cent. Political instability has long been a problem in Vanuatu, and support for the amendments grew after the country changed prime ministers three times between September and October last year.

Sources: Radio New Zealand, ConstitutionNet, Australian Broadcasting Company