Vanuatu parliament elects Sato Kilman as prime minister

Vanuatu’s parliament elected Sato Kilman as the nation’s new prime minister after a court upheld a vote of no-confidence in his predecessor, who had sought closer ties with US allies amid China-US rivalry in the Pacific Islands. Kilman, a former prime minister and leader of the People’s Progressive Party, was elected prime minister 27/23 in a secret ballot by lawmakers. Kilman received a total of 27 votes, while Kalsakau got 23 votes. Kilman, 65, was the deputy PM in Kalsakau’s government before being removed in May. At the time Kalsakau had stated that Kilman’s dismissal was for “stability of the coalition government”.

About the Vanuatu

• Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, of which 16 are inhabited. The largest islands are Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo and Aneityum or Anatom.
• The capital of Vanuatu is Port Vila, which is located on the island of Efate. Other major towns include Luganville on Espiritu Santo and Isangel on Tanna.
• The official languages of Vanuatu are Bislama, English, and French. Bislama is a creole language that is spoken by most of the people of Vanuatu. English and French are also widely spoken, especially in the tourist industry.
• The currency of Vanuatu is the vatu (VUV). The vatu is pegged to the Australian dollar, so the exchange rate is relatively stable.

Find More International News Here