Jotham Napat elected as Prime Ministe

Jotham Napat was elected Prime Minister of Vanuatu on 11 February 2025, following the country’s 2025 general election and subsequent coalition negotiations in parliament. Napat, a veteran politician from the Leaders Party of Vanuatu and MP for the Tanna constituency, secured the top government post in a parliamentary vote in Port Vila, receiving 50 votes with two void ballots in Vanuatu’s 52-member legislature. His election came after a snap election in January 2025 and the formation of a five-party coalition government, including the Leaders Party, Vanua’aku Party, Graon Mo Jastis Party, Reunification Movement for Change, and the Iauko Group, which together provided him with the necessary support to lead. Napat’s rise to the premiership marked a transition from the previous government led by Charlot Salwai, and his government has since focused on several key domestic and international priorities. As prime minister, he has emphasised economic recovery — including post-earthquake reconstruction efforts — and reshaping strategic partnerships with regional neighbours, particularly in discussions around security agreements and visa access with Australia. His leadership also reflects a generational shift in Vanuatu’s political landscape and the growing influence of coalition governance in the Pacific island nation’s parliamentary system.