The president of Vanuatu (French: Président du 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.
| President of Vanuatu | |
|---|---|
| Presiden blong Vanuatu (Bislama) Président de Vanuatu (French) | |
Presidential Standard
| |
Nikenike Vurobaravu since 23 July 2022 | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Appointer | Electoral college |
| Term length | Five years |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Vanuatu |
| Precursor | Resident commissioner |
| Inaugural holder | Ati George Sokomanu |
| Formation | 30 July 1980 |
| Salary | Vt 67,846 weekly (32,295 USD annually)[1] |
The president's role is mostly ceremonial. The Constitution grants the president the ability to appoint the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu, and three other justices.
In case of vacancy, the speaker of the Parliament will be the acting president of Vanuatu.
From 1906 to 1980 the resident commissioners of the New Hebrides were British and French colonial officials. From 1887 to 1906 the New Hebrides was led by Anglo-French joint naval commissioners.
The current president is Nikenike Vurobaravu, since 23 July 2022.[2]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |
| Ati George Sokomanu (born 1937) | 30 July 1980 | 17 February 1984 | 3 years, 202 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| – |
| Fred Timakata (1936–1995) Acting | 17 February 1984 | 8 March 1984 | 20 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| (1) |
| Ati George Sokomanu (born 1937) | 8 March 1984 | 12 January 1989 | 4 years, 310 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| – |
| Onneyn Tahi (1944–1998) Acting | 12 January 1989 | 30 January 1989 | 18 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| 2 |
| Fred Timakata (1936–1995) | 30 January 1989 | 30 January 1994 | 5 years | Vanua'aku Pati |
| – |
| Alfred Maseng (?–2004) Acting | 30 January 1994 | 2 March 1994 | 31 days | UMP |
| 3 |
| Jean-Marie Léyé (1932–2014) | 2 March 1994 | 2 March 1999 | 5 years | UMP |
| – |
| Edward Natapei (1954–2015) Acting | 2 March 1999 | 24 March 1999 | 22 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| 4 |
| John Bani (born 1941) | 24 March 1999 | 24 March 2004 | 5 years | UMP |
| – |
| Roger Abiut (born 1972) Acting | 24 March 2004 | 12 April 2004 | 19 days | Labour |
| 5 |
| Alfred Maseng (?–2004) De facto | 12 April 2004 | 11 May 2004 (Election invalidated)[3] | 90 days | UMP |
| – |
| Roger Abiut (born 1972) Acting | 11 May 2004 | 28 July 2004 | 17 days | Labour |
| – |
| Josias Moli (born 1954) Acting | 28 July 2004 | 16 August 2004 | 19 days | UMP |
| 6 |
| Kalkot Mataskelekele (born 1949) | 16 August 2004 | 16 August 2009 | 5 years | National United |
| – |
| Maxime Carlot Korman (born 1942) Acting | 16 August 2009 | 2 September 2009 | 17 days | UMP |
| 7 |
| Iolu Abil (born 1942) | 2 September 2009 | 2 September 2014 | 5 years | Vanua'aku Pati |
| – |
| Philip Boedoro (born 1958) Acting | 2 September 2014 | 22 September 2014 | 20 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
| 8 |
| Baldwin Lonsdale (1948–2017) | 22 September 2014 | 17 June 2017 † | 2 years, 268 days | Independent |
| – |
| Esmon Saimon (born 1955) Acting | 17 June 2017 | 6 July 2017 | 19 days | Melanesian Progressive |
| 9 |
| Tallis Obed Moses (born 1954) | 6 July 2017 | 6 July 2022 | 5 years | Independent |
| – |
| Seule Simeon (born 1970) Acting | 6 July 2022 | 23 July 2022 | 17 days | Independent |
| 10 |
| Nikenike Vurobaravu (born 1951) | 23 July 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 2 days | Vanua'aku Pati |
