For immediate release
Vanuatu’s political parties and groupings have used a new publication, The political parties and groupings of Vanuatu, 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.
ENDS
For more information or interviews please contact
Michael Morgan
Notes to Editor
About PiPP
The Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) is an independent, non-partisan and not-for-profit think tank based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. PiPP exists to stimulate and support policy making in the Pacific by:
conducting user-relevant policy-based research grounded in empirical analysis
communicating the outcomes of new research to policy makers
providing an inclusive forum for debate on pressing policy issues.
About Australian Labor – International Projects Unit
The International Projects Unit was established in 2006 to manage Australian Labor’s international relations around the world and to deliver cutting edge technical assistance to political parties in Asia and the Pacific.
Through the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program (APPDP) and our other international activities, we will target the strengthening of political parties in the region. Political parties are the primary vehicles for everyday people to have their aspirations reflected in government decision-making.
Each year we undertake a raft of networking and training initiatives designed to build links with political party campaigners in the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. These include our signature events the Progressive Summit and the Asia Pacific Leaders Forum at our Australian Labor National Conference.
About the publication
This is the First Edition of the Political Parties and Groupings of Vanuatu, a collaborative project between Australian Labor’s International Projects Unit, the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) and the political parties of Vanuatu. This booklet was commissioned by the International Projects Unit, under the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program (APPDP). APPD programs are designed to assist the major Australian political parties promote democracy in Asia and the Pacific and build links with our counterparts around the world.
The booklet profiles the main political parties and groupings in Vanuatu and captures the major debates as stated by parties. The authors hope these notes contribute to a better understanding of the political situation in Vanuatu in our region and contribute to the continuation of open and sustainable politic processes.
The booklet will be available publically online from Monday 18 August, 2008 from www.ip.alp.org.au and www.paciï¬cpolicy.org.
About the launch
The booklet is to be officially launched on Monday 18 August, 2008 at the Municipal Sea-front Stage in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Attending the launch will be Australian Labor MP Richard Marles, a leading member of Labor’s International Party Development Committee (IPDC), together with 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.
