Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,
Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: unified system being created from former dual
French and British systems
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March
1998); Deputy Prime Minister Willie JIMMY (since 19 October 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of
Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils for a
five-year term; election for president last 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 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent of
electoral college vote—NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister by
Parliament with a total of 35 votes; other candidate, Rialuth Serge
VOHOR, received 17 votes
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 four 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; as a result of
legislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected prime
minister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI's
National United Party (NUP)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note—political party associations are fluid; there have been four 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 or UMP