IPDC Member Richard Marles launches new political parties booklet in Vanuatu.

Date:  18 August 2008

IPDC Committee Member Richard Marles has launched the Political Parties and Groupings of Vanuatu, First Edition booklet in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Attending the launch were leaders of Vanuatu’s political parties and representatives of civil society including the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs, Vanuatu National Women’s Council, Vanuatu Youth Council and Vanuatu Christian Council.

Vanuatu’s political parties and groupings have used the new publication to promote their platforms and policies in preparation for the 2 September 2008 national elections. The publication is an initiative of Australian Labor’s International Projects Unit and the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) under the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program (APPDP).

Since the early 1990s, the dominance of the independence political parties has been eroded by factionalism and personality politics. An explosion in the number of minor political parties and independents contesting and winning elections means that forming government has become a complex process of negotiation between parliamentary groups, rather than the direct result of national elections. No party has been able to form government in its own right since the 1991 elections. Since 2004, the situation has stabilised with Ham Lini and the National United Party (NUP) leading a coalition government to full term.

Some 330 candidates and 25 parties have registered to contest the 52 seats on offer in the 2008 elections. Will we see a further rise in minor political parties and independents, or will we witness strengthening of political parties and a gradual return towards majority government?

Whatever the outcome, Michael Morgan, Director of the Australian Labor’s International Projects Unit, suggests ‘for Vanuatu to remain stable and diverse, its political parties and candidates need to continue to build links between provinces, islands, communities, ethnicities and language groups. In short, they need to stay in contact with the people while building a national debate about the future.’

For many of Vanuatu’s political parties, this is the first time they have had a chance to promote their platform and vision for Vanuatu’s future on a national and international scale. Michael Morgan states ‘we are passionate believers that political parties are fundamental building blocks in any democracy and parties need strategies for communicating with the public about their ideas and policies’.

In contributing to this publication, the political parties and groupings of Vanuatu are building a national debate on how to advance the country’s development.

Derek Brien, Communications Director of the Pacific Institute of Public policy notes ‘the importance of accessible information to inform the debate. As parties reach out to more people, civic education grows and the reporting of political events becomes more widespread we should see a more responsive political system.’

The publication is available in English and Bislama.

The authors of the booklet acknowledge the legitimacy of independent candidates, however have not profiled them in this publication as there are simply too many running in the 2008 elections.

For more information please visit Pacific Institute of Public Policy website www.pacificpolicy.org