General elections were held in Vanuatu on 30 November 1987. Ni-Vanuatu voters were invited to elect the 46 members of an expanded national Parliament, which had previously held 39 seats.

The ruling Vanua'aku Pati maintained its absolute majority, with 26 seats, while the Union of Moderate Parties obtained 19. The Vanua'aku Pati received slightly less than 50% of the popular vote, while the UMP received 40%. Walter Lini of the Vanua'aku Pati remained Prime Minister.MILES, William F.S., Bridging Mental Boundaries in a Postcolonial Microcosm: Identity and Development in Vanuatu, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998, , p.24 Voter turnout was 71.6%.Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p842

Important issues in the election included domestic economic reforms (such as liberalising the economy) and the accommodation of the Francophone population.

Electoral system Most members were elected through single non-transferable voting in multi-seat districts having two to six members each. Four members were elected through first-past-the-post voting.

Results

By constituency

Constituency Candidate Party Votes %Ambae Onneyn Tahi 884 24.30Samson Bue 772 21.22Harold Colin Qualao 766 21.06Amos Bangabiti 641 17.62John Tari Morris 249 6.84James Mera 232 6.38James Horo 94 2.58Ambrym Amos Adeng 1,469 46.84Jack Tungon Hopa 863 27.52Welwel Andrew 654 20.85Kevin Jonathan 150 4.78Banks and Torres Charles Godden 793 34.31Luke Titinsom Dini 703 30.42Derek Lulum Vanva 551 23.84Norman Roslyn 264 11.42Efate Andes Jacques Carlot 1,086 20.54Joel Pakoalao Mansale 1,074 20.31Donald Kalpokas 934 17.67Chilia Jimmy Meto 920 17.40Tele Taun 912 17.25James Kenneth Satungia 244 4.62Kalosike Edith Matautotau 117 2.21Epi Jimmy Simon 790 54.94J. Kalala Waiwo 442 30.74Reggie Robert 206 14.33Luganville Alfred Maseng 1,063 46.44Edgell William 542 23.68Arusiro Willie 386 16.86Joel Cyrus 169 7.38Noel Takau 98 4.28Thomas Reynolds 31 1.35Maewo Roger Jerry Boe 539 56.38Tom Sigo 161 16.84Ezechiel Toa 145 15.17Frederick Boe 111 11.61Malekula Lingtamat Anatole 1,229 14.54Sethy Regenvanu 1,072 12.68Adrien Malere 926 10.95Paul Telukluk 890 10.53Aileh Rantes 881 10.42Simeon Ennis 822 9.72Aime Claude Malere 685 8.10Willion Willy 599 7.08Fidel Dra Fabian 488 5.77Edson David 331 3.91Nacisse Fred 277 3.28Jerry Donabit 155 1.83Hollingson Issachar 91 1.08Malsekan Jean Baotuste 9 0.11Other Southern Islands Edward Natapei 606 54.74Leye Christophe 461 41.64Naupa John 40 3.61Paama William Mahit 553 51.35Mael William 524 48.65Pentecost Walter Lini 1,392 29.19Vincent Boulekone 1,094 22.94Gaetano Bulewak 849 17.80Basile Tabi 620 13.00Luke Fargo 572 11.99Job W. Tabi 159 3.33Frazer Sine 83 1.74Port Vila Maxime Carlot Korman 999 20.16Willie Jimmy 945 19.07Maria Crowby 671 13.54Hilda Lini 602 12.15Barak Sopé 524 10.57Kalpokor Kalsakau 520 10.49Albert Sandy 343 6.92Frank Abel 175 3.53Franck Bakeo Spooner 139 2.80George Kaltoi Kalsakau 38 0.77Santo–Malo–Aore Sela Molisa 1,250 17.38Serge Vohor 1,093 15.20Harry Karaeru 946 13.15Rene Luc 842 11.71Vuro Baravu Andrew Molieno 807 11.22Kavcor Wass 750 10.43Sarki Robert 715 9.94Thomas Ruben Seru 273 3.80James Tangis Indofon 264 3.67Dom Dimala 253 3.52Shepherds David Karie 531 29.83Fred Timakata 419 23.54Raymond Clay 376 21.12Jimmy Tasso 293 16.46Api Toara 161 9.04Tanna Henry Iouiou 1,120 14.17Iaris Naunun 1,059 13.40Iolu Abil 1,040 13.16Keasipai Song 1,000 12.66Daniel Iamiham 691 8.74Kawai Thompson 646 8.18Nango Charley 573 7.25Korisa Willie 510 6.45Silas Iaunam 449 5.68Nicklam Jonathan Jimmy 423 5.35Tom Numake 183 2.32Jeffry Lahva 164 2.08Kapum Jack 35 0.44Willie Ioba 9 0.11

Aftermath

In 1988 five MPs led by Barak Sopé left the Vanua'aku Pati and created the Melanesian Progressive Party. The five were subsequently expelled from Parliament on 24 July 1988 by the Speaker Onneyn Tahi at the request of the Lini government, invoking a 1983 law that automatically vacates the seats of MPs who change political party during the parliamentary term. Sopé and Maxime Carlot, the leader of the Union of Moderate Parties then described Lini as a "dictator" and 18 of the 20 UMP deputies started boycotting Parliament. On 27 July, after being absent from Parliament for three consecutive days, the 18 deputies were also expelled by Tahi, who considered that they had resigned their seats. In September the Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the dismissal of the 23 MPs, opening the way to the holding of by-elections."Sope's Desperate Gamble Falters", Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1988, p.10 The only two UMP MPs who were not expelled were Vincent Boulekone and Gaetano Bulewak, who refused to go along with the UMP's boycott strategy. They were subsequently excluded from the UMP and founded the Tan Union.Vincent Boulekone, «La politique du Tan-Union» dans Howard Van Trease et Michelle Craw (dir.), La politique mélanesienne: Stael Blong Vanuatu, University of the South Pacific, 1995, pp.207 et seq.Roland Rich, Luke Hambly et Michael G. Morgan, Political Parties in the Pacific Islands, Australian National University Press, 2008, p.123

The by-elections of 1988 and 1989 were boycotted by the UMP and the Melanesian Progressive Party, with most seats won by the Vanua'aku Pati.

See also List of members of the Parliament of Vanuatu (1987–1991)

References

Further reading