President of Vanuatu

The president of Vanuatu (French: Président du Vanuatu) is the head of state of Vanuatu. The president is elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils.

President of Vanuatu
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Tallis Obed Moses since 6 July 2017
Style	His Excellency
Appointer	Electoral college
Term length	Five years
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Vanuatu
Precursor	Resident commissioner
Inaugural holder	Ati George Sokomanu
Formation	30 July 1980
Salary	Vt 67,846 weekly (32,295 USD annually)[1]

The president's role is mostly ceremonial. One function reserved to him or her by the Constitution is the appointment of the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and three other justices.

In case of vacancy, the speaker of the Parliament will be acting president.

From 1906 to 1980 the resident commissioners of the New Hebrides were British and French colonial officials. From 1887 to 1906 the New Hebrides was led by Anglo-French joint naval commissioners.

The current president is Tallis Obed Moses, since 6 July 2017.

List of presidents

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Term of office			Political Party
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Ati George Sokomanu (born 1937)	30 July 1980	17 February 1984	3 years, 202 days	VP
–		Frederick Karlomuana Timakata (1936–1995) Acting	17 February 1984	8 March 1984	20 days	VP
(1)		Ati George Sokomanu (born 1937)	8 March 1984	12 January 1989	4 years, 310 days	VP
–		Onneyn Tahi (1944–1998) Acting	12 January 1989	30 January 1989	18 days	VP
2		Frederick Karlomuana Timakata (1936–1995)	30 January 1989	30 January 1994	5 years, 0 days	VP
–		Alfred Maseng (?–2004) Acting	30 January 1994	2 March 1994	31 days	UMP
3		Jean Marie Leye Lenelgau (1932–2014)	2 March 1994	2 March 1999	5 years, 0 days	UMP
–		Edward Natapei (1954–2015) Acting	2 March 1999	24 March 1999	22 days	VP
4		John Bani (born 1941)	24 March 1999	24 March 2004	5 years, 0 days	UMP
–		Roger Abiut (born 1972) Acting	24 March 2004	12 April 2004	19 days	VLP
5		Alfred Maseng (?–2004)	12 April 2004	11 May 2004 (Election invalidated)[2]	90 days	UMP
–		Roger Abiut (born 1972) Acting	11 May 2004	28 July 2004	17 days	VLP
–		Josias Moli (born 1972) Acting	28 July 2004	16 August 2004	19 days	UMP
6		Kalkot Mataskelekele (born 1949)	16 August 2004	16 August 2009	5 years, 0 days	NUP
–		Maxime Carlot Korman (born 1942) Acting	16 August 2009	2 September 2009	17 days	UMP
7		Iolu Abil (born 1942)	2 September 2009	2 September 2014	5 years, 0 days	VP
–		Philip Boedoro (born 1958) Acting	2 September 2014	22 September 2014	20 days	VP
8		Baldwin Lonsdale (1948–2017)	22 September 2014	17 June 2017 †	2 years, 268 days	Independent
–		Esmon Saimon (born 1955) Acting	17 June 2017	6 July 2017	19 days	MPP
9		Tallis Obed Moses (born 1954)	6 July 2017	Incumbent	3 years, 40 days	Independent

See also

• Vanuatu
  • Politics of Vanuatu
  • List of colonial heads of Vanuatu (New Hebrides)
  • Prime Minister of Vanuatu
• Lists of Incumbents

References

1. "Official Salaries not something to keep mum about - News - dailypost.vu". web.archive.org. 1 July 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01.
2. "VANUATU: President Removed by Supreme Court". RNZI. Pacific Magazine. 2004-05-11. Archived from the original on 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2008-08-01.