2020 Vanuatuan general election

The 52 members of Parliament were elected from eight single-member constituencies and ten multi-member constituencies (of between two and seven seats) by single non-transferable vote.[3]

The Vanua'aku Pati launched its campaign slogan 'Lets Rebuild Vanuatu' in June 2019 and endorsed the continuation of its Kambak ("come back") policy.[4]

In October 2019, a 'Vot Woman' campaign was launched, supporting all female candidates and calling for guaranteed 50% representation for women in parliament.[5] No women were elected in the 2012 or 2016 elections. There were around 15 female candidates.[6]

An important issue was the future of the lucrative but controversial citizenship by investment, or “passport sales” programs. For a price of about US $150,000, these schemes allow applicants to become citizens in months, without setting foot in the country.[7]

Results of the election.

Although there were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the islands, there were concerns that fears of the pandemic could keep turnout low. Turnout at the previous election was about 57%.[7]

Unofficial results were gradually released over the following days, with official results being announced later than usual, on 6 April, due to the death of the Chairman of the Vanuatu Electoral Commission, Martin Tete.[8] No women were elected.[9] Turnout was down six percentage points from the prior elections in 2016.

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Leaders Party of Vanuatu	17,992	12.49	5	+4
	Vanua'aku Pati	17,460	12.12	7	+1
	Reunification Movement for Change	16,298	11.32	7	+4
	Land and Justice Party	14,400	10.00	9	+2
	Union of Moderate Parties	11,043	7.67	5	–1
	National United Party	5,377	3.73	4	0
	Green Confederation	3,623	2.52	1	–1
	Rural Development Party	3,600	2.50	2	New
	Vanuatu Liberal Movement	3,147	2.19	1	New
	Nagriamel	2,980	2.07	1	–2
	Vanuatu Labour Party	2,866	1.99	0	–1
	Iauko Group	2,847	1.38	2	–2
	People's Progressive Party	2,664	1.85	1	0
	Vanuatu First Party	2,112	1.46	1	New
	Vanuatu National Development Party	2,102	1.46	1	–1
	People Unity Development Party	1,870	1.30	1	New
	Vanuatu Cultural Self-reliance Movement	1,637	1.14	1	New
	New Nation Party	1,534	1.07	0	New
	Vemarana	1,506	1.05	1	+1
	Ngwasoanda Custom Movement	1,300	0.90	1	New
	Oceania Transformation Movement	1,252	0.87	0	New
	The People's Party	1,232	0.86	0	New
	Vanuatu Community Movement	1,028	0.71	0	New
	Friend Melanesian Party	996	0.69	0	–1
	Kia Koe Party	958	0.67	0	New
	Vanuatu Progressive Development Party	825	0.57	1	+1
	Upi Nafzan Iskei	729	0.51	0	New
	People's Services Party	700	0.49	0	–1
	Vanuatu People's Alliance for Change	602	0.42	0	New
	Natatok Party	593	0.41	0	0
	Vanuatu Progressive Republican Farmer Party	512	0.36	0	0
	People's Democratic Party	505	0.35	0	New
	National Party	448	0.31	0	0
	Imaim	442	0.31	0	New
	UCVP Party	436	0.30	0	New
	Angai Tagaro	386	0.27	0	New
	Melanesian Progressive Party	327	0.23	0	0
	United Movements for Vanuatu People	315	0.22	0	New
	Vanuatu Presidential Party	294	0.20	0	–1
	Nodaru Masan Party	104	0.07	0	New
	Shepherds Alliance Party	80	0.06	0	0
	People's Action Party	77	0.05	0	0
	Namaki Ahute Kastom Movement	71	0.05	0	New
	People, Churches, Chiefs Party	70	0.05	0	New
	Vanuatu Liberal Party	54	0.04	0	New
	Movement for Righteousness, Justice and Peace	37	0.03	0	New
	Vanuatu Peoples for Change Party	19	0.01	0	New
	Vanuatu Reform Democratic Party	7	0.00	0	0
	Independents	14,546	10.10	0	–8
Invalid/blank votes		1,061	–	–	–
Total		145,064	100	52	0
Registered voters/turnout		278,957	52.00	–	–
Source: calculation based on VEO

Due to the delay in announcing the official results, Parliament was unable to meet for its first sitting within the normal period of 21 days after the election, and instead met for the first time on 20 April.[8] During the first meeting, Gracia Shadrack of the Leaders Party of Vanuatu was elected Speaker. Bob Loughman of the Vanua'aku Pati was elected Prime Minister, defeating former foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu of the Land and Justice Party by 31 votes to 21. Loughman's coalition government included the Vanua'aku Pati, the Union of Moderate Parties, the National United Party and other minor parties. The next day Loughman appointed the members of his government.[10]

• List of members of the Parliament of Vanuatu (2020–)