President of Vanuatu

President of Vanuatu
Presidential Standard of Vanuatu
Incumbent Baldwin Lonsdale since 22 September 2014
Style	His Excellency
Term length	Five years
Inaugural holder	Ati George Sokomanu July 30, 1980
Formation	Constitution of Vanuatu July 30, 1980

The President of 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.

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.

From 1906 to 1980 the List of Resident Commissioners of the New Hebrides was held by British and French colonial officials. From 1887 to 1906 the New Hebrides was led by Anglo-French Joint Naval Commissioners.

List of Presidents

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term	Affiliation
1		Ati George Sokomanu (1937–)	30 July 1980 – 17 February 1984	Vanua'aku Pati
—		Frederick Karlomuana Timakata (1936–1995) Acting President	17 February 1984 – 8 March 1984	Vanua'aku Pati
(1)		Ati George Sokomanu (1937–)	8 March 1984 – 12 January 1989	Vanua'aku Pati
—		Onneyn Tahi Acting President	12 January 1989 – 30 January 1989	Vanua'aku Pati
2		Frederick Karlomuana Timakata (1936–1995)	30 January 1989 – 30 January 1994	Vanua'aku Pati
—		Alfred Maseng (d. 2004) Acting President	30 January 1994 – 2 March 1994	Union of Moderate Parties
3		Jean Marie Leye Lenelgau (1932–2014)	2 March 1994 – 2 March 1999	Union of Moderate Parties
—		Edward Natapei (1954–2015) Acting President	2 March 1999 – 24 March 1999	Vanua'aku Pati
4		John Bani (1941–)	25 March 1999 – 24 March 2004	Union of Moderate Parties
—		Roger Abiut (1972–) Acting President	24 March 2004 – 12 April 2004	Vanuatu Labour Party
5		Alfred Maseng (d. 2004)	12 April 2004 – 11 May 2004 (Election invalidated)[1]	Union of Moderate Parties
—		Roger Abiut Acting President	11 May 2004 – 28 July 2004	Vanuatu Labour Party
—		Josias Moli (1972–) Acting President	28 July 2004 – 16 August 2004	Union of Moderate Parties
6		Kalkot Mataskelekele (1949–)	16 August 2004 – 16 August 2009	National United Party
—		Maxime Carlot Korman (1942–) Acting President	16 August 2009 – 2 September 2009	Vanuatu Republican Party
7		Iolu Abil (1942–)	2 September 2009 – 2 September 2014	Vanua'aku Pati
—		Philip Boedoro (1942–) Acting President	2 September 2014 – 22 September 2014	Vanua'aku Pati
8		Baldwin Lonsdale	22 September 2014 – present	Independent

See also

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

References

1. "VANUATU: President Removed by Supreme Court". RNZI. Pacific Magazine. 2004-05-11. Retrieved 2008-08-01.