Vanuatu's 2008 Election - Difficulties of Government Formation in a Fractionalized Setting

Abstract

Three months after the 2nd September 2008 election, Vanuatu was still without a stable government. In the wake of the September polls, there was intense manoeuvring by the major parties involving accusations of 'member stealing' and allegations of the exchange of large sums of money to secure support. A government led by Edward Natapei was formed on September 22 based upon a coalition between the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) and the National United Party (NUP). With a slim 27 to 25 majority in the country's 52 seat Parliament, the new government immediately faced a succession of 'no confidence' challenges, each moved by frustrated opposition MPs who had missed out on positions in cabinet. Show more