A constitutional referendum was held in

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (; ), is an island country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, east o ...

on 29 May 2024, the first time a

referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

has been held in the country. Voters were asked whether they approve of two proposed amendments to the

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

aimed at reducing instability within Parliament. The proposed amendments are accompanied by the passing of legislation regulating the functioning of political parties. The referendum is mandated by article 86 of the constitution, which requires that any amendments related to the electoral system or parliamentary system must be approved in a national referendum after being passed by parliament. The associated constitutional amendment bill was passed in December 2023 with 47 votes in favour and none against. The amendments to the constitution included: *Adding article 17A forcing MPs to vacate their seats if leaving or being excluded by the party under which they were elected. *Adding article 17B forcing recently elected MPs who are independents or the only elected member of their party to join a larger party within three months of the first parliamentary session or vacate their seat. Both questions were voted on independently.

Results

Aftermath

The new law was applied to MPs following the January 2025 parliamentary election. MPs were given until May 11 to declare their new affiliation. John Amos of the Namarakieana Movement, Ian Wilson of the Ngwasoanda Custom Movement, and Maty Lange of the National United Party joined the Leaders Party of Vanuatu. Marie Louise Milne of the Green Confederation and Robert Bohn Sikol of the Vanuatu Progressive Development Party joined the Iauko Group. John Lum of

Nagriamel Nagriamel (sometimes seen as Vemarana, Vemerana or the Nagriamel Customs Union or Nagriamel Movement) is a political party in Vanuatu. History The party was established in January 1966 at a meeting of chiefs in Espiritu Santo convened by Chief ...

joined the

Land and Justice Party The Land and Justice Party (; GJP)Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...

Gaetan Pikioune joined the Reunification Movement for Change.

Seoule Simeon Seoule Simeon Davidson (also spelled Seule Simeon; born 10 October 1970) is a Vanuatu, Vanuatuan politician. A member of Vanuatu's francophone minority, Simeon went to Lycée Louis Antoine de Bougainville, Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, but did ...

of the

Laverwo Party The Laverwo Party is a political party in Vanuatu. History The Laverwo Party had nine candidates in the 2025 Vanuatuan general election. One member was elected to the Parliament of Vanuatu The Parliament of Vanuatu (; ) is the unicameral ...

joined the

Vanua'aku Pati The Vanua'aku Pati () is a democratic socialist political party in Vanuatu. History The party was founded on 17 August 1971 by Walter Lini as the New Hebridean Cultural Association, renamed later that same year as the New Hebrides National Part ...

References

{{Vanuatuan elections

Constitutional A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

Party switching Referendums in Vanuatu Election and referendum articles with incomplete results

Results

Aftermath

See also

References