Charlot Salwai

{{Short description|Prime Minister of Vanuatu (2016–2020; 2023–2025)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Charlot Salwai

| honorific_prefix = The Honourable

| honorific_suffix = MP

| image = Charlot Salwai, ITU Telecom World 2016 (cropped).jpg

| order =

| office = Prime Minister of Vanuatu

| term_start = 6 October 2023

| term_end = 11 February 2025

| predecessor = Sato Kilman

| successor = Jotham Napat

| president = Nikenike Vurobaravu

| deputy =

| term_start1 = 11 February 2016

| term_end1 = 20 April 2020

| predecessor1 = Sato Kilman

| successor1 = Bob Loughman

| president1 = {{ubl|Baldwin Lonsdale|Esmon Saimon (Acting)|Tallis Obed Moses}}

| deputy1 = Jotham Napat

| office2 = MP for Pentecost

| term_start2 = 2 May 2002

| term_end2 = 8 October 2021

| predecessor2 =

| successor2 = Sumptoh Blaise Tabisurin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|4|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Pentecost Island, New Hebrides

| party = Reunification Movement for
Change

| spouse = Marie-Justine Salwai

| residence = Port Vila, Vanuatu

| occupation = Accountant

| profession = Politician

| caption = Salwai in 2016

}}

Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas (born 24 April 1963)[https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members/115-hon-charlot-salwai "Hon. Charlot Salwai"], Vanuatu Parliament, 20 January 2015 is a Vanuatuan politician, former accountant, and political advisor. He was the prime minister of Vanuatu from 2016 to 2020 and again from 2023 to 2025.{{citation|title=Charlot Salwai elected Vanuatu PM|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/296290/charlot-salwai-elected-vanuatu-pm|accessdate=11 February 2016|work=Radio New Zealand|date=11 February 2016}}{{Citation|url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/499581/charlot-salwai-elected-prime-minister-of-vanuatu|title=Charlot Salwai elected prime minister of Vanuatu|website=RNZ |date=6 October 2023 |accessdate=6 October 2023}} He is the leader of the Reunification of Movements for Change (RMC), which is part of the Unity for Change bloc.

Biography

Born in 1963 on Pentecost Island,{{Verification failed|date=October 2023}} Salwai learned to speak French as a teenager.{{cite web|url=http://spasifikmag.com/strengtheningpacificties17/|title=Strengthening Pacific Ties|publisher=SPASIFIK |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028001122/http://spasifikmag.com/strengtheningpacificties17/ |archive-date=28 October 2020}} He attended Bourail College to obtain his General Education Certificate, Bourail Technical College to obtain his Technical Education Certificate, and Lycée Blaise Pascal in Nouméa for his Baccalauréat technologique G2.

Salwai is a Protestant Christian and is able to speak some English.{{cn|date=October 2023}} In the summer of 2017, he appeared in South Korea at the RUTC "World Remnant Conference".{{Cite web|url= http://www.rutc24.kr/board/index.html?id=board1&no=1023|title=주보 :: 임마누엘서울교회|website=www.rutc24.kr|access-date=7 December 2017}}

Salwai had previously served as Minister for Trade and Industries, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Minister for Education, Minister of Justice{{cite web |title=LIST OF MEMBERS OF NINTH LEGISLATURE |url=https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/mp-electorates/legislatures/members-of-9th-legislature |website=The Parliament of Vanuatu |language=en-gb}} (2012), Minister for Finance and Economic Management (2012–2013),{{Cite web|url=https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members/115-hon-charlot-salwai|title=Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas|website=parliament.gov.vu}} and Minister of Internal Affairs.{{cite web|last1=Isno|first1=Vira|title=Hon. Charlot Salwai|url=https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members/115-hon-charlot-salwai|publisher=Parliament of Vanuatu|accessdate=11 February 2016}} He has also served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Leader of the Opposition Whip, and Deputy Opposition Leader.

On 11 February 2016, he was elected prime minister of Vanuatu in the 2016 Vanuatuan general election. In August 2016, he was re-elected as leader of the RMC.{{cite web|author=Rita Narayan |url= http://www.loopvanuatu.com/content/pm-charlot-salwai-retains-position-national-president-rmc |title=PM Charlot Salwai retains position as national President of RMC |publisher=Loop Vanuatu |date=26 August 2016 |accessdate=10 December 2016}} In late November 2016 Salwai survived an attempt at a motion of no-confidence, with MPs being divided on procedural points regarding the motion and attachment of a summons.{{cite web|first=Dan |last=McGary |url= http://www.pireport.org/articles/2016/11/30/vanuatu-prime-minister-survives-no-confidence-attempt |title=Vanuatu Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Attempt |publisher=Pacific Islands Report |date=30 November 2016 |accessdate=10 December 2016}} In August 2020, Salwai, former cabinet ministers Matai Seremaiah and Jerome Ludvaune and former MP Tom Korr were committed to the Supreme Court on charges of bribery and corruption over allegations he had bribed MPs who had signed the motion. Salwai was also charged with perjury.{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/422807/former-vanuatu-pm-and-mps-referred-to-supreme-court |title=Former Vanuatu PM and MPs referred to Supreme Court |work=RNZ |date=5 August 2020 |accessdate=5 August 2020}}

Salwai stood trial from 23 November 2020, charged with 10 counts of bribery and corruption.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/425746/former-vanuatu-pm-to-stand-trial-in-november |title=Former Vanuatu PM to stand trial in November |website=RNZ |date=10 September 2020 }} He and his former Minister of Health were acquitted of bribery on 8 December.{{Cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/432421/former-vanuatu-pm-and-mps-acquitted-on-corruption-bribery|title=Former Vanuatu PM and MPs acquitted on corruption/bribery | RNZ News|work=Radio New Zealand|date=8 December 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201208212720/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/432421/former-vanuatu-pm-and-mps-acquitted-on-corruption-bribery|archive-date=8 December 2020}} On 16 December 2020, Salwai was convicted of perjury{{cite news |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/433008/former-vanuatu-prime-minister-found-guilty-of-perjury |title=Former Vanuatu prime minister found guilty of perjury |publisher=RNZ |date=16 December 2020 |accessdate=16 December 2020}} and given a suspended sentence.{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Liam |title=Vanuatu's former prime minister Charlot Salwai avoids prison after being convicted of perjury |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-03/vanuatu-former-prime-minister-charlot-salwai-guilty-perjury/13116560 |access-date=3 September 2021 |publisher=ABC News |date=2 February 2021}} He was pardoned by the President of Vanuatu, Tallis Obed Moses, in September 2021, which restored his eligibility to run for public office.{{cite news|url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/450671/vanuatu-president-pardons-three-former-pms|title=Vanuatu president pardons three former PMs|work=Radio New Zealand |date=3 September 2021}}

On 6 October 2023, Salwai was elected prime minister following the ousting of Sato Kilman in a vote of no confidence.