President of Vanuatu

{{Infobox official post

| post = President

| body = Vanuatu

| native_name = {{nativename|bi|Presiden blong Vanuatu}}
{{nativename|fr|Président de Vanuatu}}

| insignia =

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption =

| flag = Flag of the President of Vanuatu.svg

| flagsize =

| flagborder = yes

| flagcaption = Presidential Standard

| image = President Vurobaravu at Ceremony (cropped).png

| imagesize =

| alt =

| incumbent = Nikenike Vurobaravu

| incumbentsince = 23 July 2022

| department =

| style = His Excellency

| type =

| status =

| abbreviation =

| member_of =

| reports_to =

| residence =

| seat =

| nominator =

| appointer = Electoral college

| appointer_qualified =

| termlength = Five years

| termlength_qualified = non-renewable

| constituting_instrument = Constitution of Vanuatu (1980)

| precursor = Resident commissioner

| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1980|7|30}}

| inaugural = Ati George Sokomanu

| last =

| abolished =

| succession =

| unofficial_names =

| deputy =

| salary = Vt 67,846 weekly (32,295 USD annually){{cite web|url=http://dailypost.vu/news/official-salaries-not-something-to-keep-mum-about/article_9d406d7a-8914-5dff-bdda-2856e950019f.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701173244/http://dailypost.vu/news/official-salaries-not-something-to-keep-mum-about/article_9d406d7a-8914-5dff-bdda-2856e950019f.html|archive-date=2017-07-01|title=Official Salaries not something to keep mum about - News - dailypost.vu|date=1 July 2017}}

| website =

}}

The president of Vanuatu ({{langx|fr|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.

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.{{Cite web|title=After eight rounds of voting, Vanuatu elects new president|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/471500/after-eight-rounds-of-voting-vanuatu-elects-new-president|access-date=2022-02-08|website=rnz.co.nz}}

List of presidents

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
rowspan=2\| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Portrait ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(Birth–Death)}} ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! rowspan=2\| Political party
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office
{{Officeholder table \| order2 = 1 \| image = Ati George Sokomanu, (cropped).jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Ati George Sokomanu \| born_year = 1937 \| died_year = \| term_start = 30 July 1980 \| term_end = 17 February 1984 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1980\|07\|30\|1984\|02\|17}} \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Fred Timakata \| born_year = 1936 \| died_year = 1995 \| term_start = 17 February 1984 \| term_end = 8 March 1984 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1984\|02\|17\|1984\|03\|08}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = (1) \| image = Ati George Sokomanu, (cropped).jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Ati George Sokomanu \| born_year = 1937 \| died_year = \| term_start = 8 March 1984 \| term_end = 12 January 1989 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1984\|03\|08\|1989\|01\|12}} \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Onneyn Tahi \| born_year = 1944 \| died_year = 1998 \| term_start = 12 January 1989 \| term_end = 30 January 1989 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1989\|01\|12\|1989\|01\|30}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 2 \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Fred Timakata \| born_year = 1936 \| died_year = 1995 \| term_start = 30 January 1989 \| term_end = 30 January 1994 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|1989\|01\|30\|1994\|01\|30}} years \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Alfred Maseng \| born_year = ? \| died_year = 2004 \| term_start = 30 January 1994 \| term_end = 2 March 1994 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1994\|01\|30\|1994\|03\|02}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 3 \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Jean-Marie Léyé \| born_year = 1932 \| died_year = 2014 \| term_start = 2 March 1994 \| term_end = 2 March 1999 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|1994\|03\|02\|1999\|03\|02}} years \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Edward Natapei 2009.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Edward Natapei \| born_year = 1954 \| died_year = 2015 \| term_start = 2 March 1999 \| term_end = 24 March 1999 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|1999\|03\|02\|1999\|03\|24}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Pati }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 4 \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = John Bani \| born_year = 1941 \| died_year = \| term_start = 24 March 1999 \| term_end = 24 March 2004 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|1999\|03\|24\|2004\|03\|24}} years \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Roger Abiut \| born_year = 1972 \| died_year = \| term_start = 24 March 2004 \| term_end = 12 April 2004 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2004\|03\|24\|2004\|04\|12}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanuatu Labour Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 5 \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Alfred Maseng \| officeholder_note = De facto \| born_year = ? \| died_year = 2004 \| term_start = 12 April 2004 \| term_end = 11 May 2004 {{small\|(Election invalidated)}}{{cite news\|title=VANUATU: President Removed by Supreme Court\|url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2004/05/11/vanuatu-president-removed-by-supreme-court\|work=RNZI\|publisher=Pacific Magazine\|date=2004-05-11\|access-date=2008-08-01\|url-status=dead\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070614094204/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2004/05/11/vanuatu-president-removed-by-supreme-court\|archive-date=2007-06-14}} \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2004\|04\|12\|2004\|07\|11}} \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Roger Abiut \| born_year = 1972 \| died_year = \| term_start = 11 May 2004 \| term_end = 28 July 2004 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2004\|07\|11\|2004\|07\|28}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanuatu Labour Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Josias Moli \| born_year = 1954 \| died_year = \| term_start = 28 July 2004 \| term_end = 16 August 2004 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2004\|07\|28\|2004\|08\|16}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 6 \| image = Kalkot Mataskelekele.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Kalkot Mataskelekele \| born_year = 1949 \| died_year = \| term_start = 16 August 2004 \| term_end = 16 August 2009 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|2004\|08\|16\|2009\|08\|16}} years \| alt_party = National United Party (Vanuatu) }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Maxime Carlot Korman \| born_year = 1941 \| died_year = \| term_start = 16 August 2009 \| term_end = 2 September 2009 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2009\|08\|16\|2009\|09\|02}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 7 \| image = Iolu Abil UNDP 2010.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Iolu Abil \| born_year = 1942 \| died_year = \| term_start = 2 September 2009 \| term_end = 2 September 2014 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|2009\|09\|02\|2014\|09\|02}} years \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Philip Boedoro \| born_year = 1958 \| died_year = \| term_start = 2 September 2014 \| term_end = 22 September 2014 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2014\|09\|02\|2014\|09\|22}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 8 \| image = Baldwin Lonsdale 2015.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Baldwin Lonsdale \| born_year = 1948 \| died_year = 2017 \| died = y \| term_start = 22 September 2014 \| term_end = 17 June 2017 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2014\|09\|22\|2017\|06\|17}} \| alt_party = Independent politician }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Esmon Saimon 2018.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Esmon Saimon \| born_year = 1955 \| died_year = \| term_start = 17 June 2017 \| term_end = 6 July 2017 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2017\|06\|17\|2017\|07\|06}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Melanesian Progressive Party }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 9 \| image = Tallis Obed Moses 2017.jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Tallis Obed Moses \| born_year = 1954 \| died_year = \| term_start = 6 July 2017 \| term_end = 6 July 2022 \| timeinoffice = {{age in years\|2017\|07\|06\|2022\|07\|06}} years \| alt_party = Independent politician }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = – \| image = Hon. Seoule SIMEON (cropped).jpg \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Seule Simeon \| born_year = 1970 \| died_year = \| term_start = 6 July 2022 \| term_end = 23 July 2022 \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2022\|07\|06\|2022\|07\|23}} \| acting = y \| alt_party = Independent politician }} {{Officeholder table \| order2 = 10 \| image = President Vurobaravu at Ceremony (cropped).png \|bSize =80 \| officeholder = Nikenike Vurobaravu \| born_year = 1951 \| died_year = \| term_start = 23 July 2022 \| term_end = Incumbent \| timeinoffice = {{ayd\|2022\|07\|23

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Portrait

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(Birth–Death)}}

! colspan=3| Term of office

! rowspan=2| Political party

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 1

| image = Ati George Sokomanu, (cropped).jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Ati George Sokomanu

| born_year = 1937

| died_year =

| term_start = 30 July 1980

| term_end = 17 February 1984

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1980|07|30|1984|02|17}}

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Fred Timakata

| born_year = 1936

| died_year = 1995

| term_start = 17 February 1984

| term_end = 8 March 1984

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|02|17|1984|03|08}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = (1)

| image = Ati George Sokomanu, (cropped).jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Ati George Sokomanu

| born_year = 1937

| died_year =

| term_start = 8 March 1984

| term_end = 12 January 1989

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1984|03|08|1989|01|12}}

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Onneyn Tahi

| born_year = 1944

| died_year = 1998

| term_start = 12 January 1989

| term_end = 30 January 1989

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1989|01|12|1989|01|30}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 2

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Fred Timakata

| born_year = 1936

| died_year = 1995

| term_start = 30 January 1989

| term_end = 30 January 1994

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1989|01|30|1994|01|30}} years

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Alfred Maseng

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 2004

| term_start = 30 January 1994

| term_end = 2 March 1994

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1994|01|30|1994|03|02}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 3

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Jean-Marie Léyé

| born_year = 1932

| died_year = 2014

| term_start = 2 March 1994

| term_end = 2 March 1999

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1994|03|02|1999|03|02}} years

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Edward Natapei 2009.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Edward Natapei

| born_year = 1954

| died_year = 2015

| term_start = 2 March 1999

| term_end = 24 March 1999

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1999|03|02|1999|03|24}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Pati

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 4

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = John Bani

| born_year = 1941

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 March 1999

| term_end = 24 March 2004

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|1999|03|24|2004|03|24}} years

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Roger Abiut

| born_year = 1972

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 March 2004

| term_end = 12 April 2004

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|03|24|2004|04|12}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanuatu Labour Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 5

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Alfred Maseng

| officeholder_note = De facto

| born_year = ?

| died_year = 2004

| term_start = 12 April 2004

| term_end = 11 May 2004
{{small|(Election invalidated)}}{{cite news|title=VANUATU: President Removed by Supreme Court|url=http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2004/05/11/vanuatu-president-removed-by-supreme-court|work=RNZI|publisher=Pacific Magazine|date=2004-05-11|access-date=2008-08-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070614094204/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2004/05/11/vanuatu-president-removed-by-supreme-court|archive-date=2007-06-14}}

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|04|12|2004|07|11}}

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Roger Abiut

| born_year = 1972

| died_year =

| term_start = 11 May 2004

| term_end = 28 July 2004

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|07|11|2004|07|28}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanuatu Labour Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Josias Moli

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 28 July 2004

| term_end = 16 August 2004

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2004|07|28|2004|08|16}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 6

| image = Kalkot Mataskelekele.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Kalkot Mataskelekele

| born_year = 1949

| died_year =

| term_start = 16 August 2004

| term_end = 16 August 2009

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2004|08|16|2009|08|16}} years

| alt_party = National United Party (Vanuatu)

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Maxime Carlot Korman

| born_year = 1941

| died_year =

| term_start = 16 August 2009

| term_end = 2 September 2009

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2009|08|16|2009|09|02}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Union of Moderate Parties

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 7

| image = Iolu Abil UNDP 2010.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Iolu Abil

| born_year = 1942

| died_year =

| term_start = 2 September 2009

| term_end = 2 September 2014

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2009|09|02|2014|09|02}} years

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = |bSize =80

| officeholder = Philip Boedoro

| born_year = 1958

| died_year =

| term_start = 2 September 2014

| term_end = 22 September 2014

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|09|02|2014|09|22}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 8

| image = Baldwin Lonsdale 2015.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Baldwin Lonsdale

| born_year = 1948

| died_year = 2017

| died = y

| term_start = 22 September 2014

| term_end = 17 June 2017

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2014|09|22|2017|06|17}}

| alt_party = Independent politician

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Esmon Saimon 2018.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Esmon Saimon

| born_year = 1955

| died_year =

| term_start = 17 June 2017

| term_end = 6 July 2017

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2017|06|17|2017|07|06}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Melanesian Progressive Party

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 9

| image = Tallis Obed Moses 2017.jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Tallis Obed Moses

| born_year = 1954

| died_year =

| term_start = 6 July 2017

| term_end = 6 July 2022

| timeinoffice = {{age in years|2017|07|06|2022|07|06}} years

| alt_party = Independent politician

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = –

| image = Hon. Seoule SIMEON (cropped).jpg |bSize =80

| officeholder = Seule Simeon

| born_year = 1970

| died_year =

| term_start = 6 July 2022

| term_end = 23 July 2022

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2022|07|06|2022|07|23}}

| acting = y

| alt_party = Independent politician

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order2 = 10

| image = President Vurobaravu at Ceremony (cropped).png |bSize =80

| officeholder = Nikenike Vurobaravu

| born_year = 1951

| died_year =

| term_start = 23 July 2022

| term_end = Incumbent

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|2022|07|23

}

| alt_party = Vanua'aku Party

}}

|}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline|

ImageSize = width:1150 height:auto barincrement:12

PlotArea = top:10 bottom:100 right:150 left:20

AlignBars = late

Colors =

id:Ind value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8) legend:Independent

id:VP value:rgb(0,0.52,0) legend:Vanua'aku_Pati

id:UMP value:rgb(0.01,0.63,0.91) legend:Union_of_Moderate_Parties

id:VLP value:rgb(0.82,0.20,0.22) legend:Vanuatu_Labour_Party

id:NUP value:rgb(0.99,0.8,0.02) legend:National_United_Party

id:MPP value:rgb(0.87,0.22,0.22) legend:Melanesian_Progressive_Party

id:liteline value:gray(0.8)

id:line value:rgb(0.3,0.3,0.3)

id:bg value:white

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1980 till:31/12/{{#expr:{{#time:Y}}}}

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ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1980

ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1980

Legend = columns:1 left:110 top:57 columnwidth:220

Define $now = {{#time:d/m/Y|-3 hours}}

TextData =

pos:(20,57) textcolor:black fontsize:s

text:"Political Affiliation:"

BarData =

bar:Sokomanu

bar:Timakata

bar:Tahi

bar:Maseng

bar:Léyé

bar:Natapei

bar:Bani

bar:Abiut

bar:Moli

bar:Mataskelekele

bar:Korman

bar:Abil

bar:Boedoro

bar:Lonsdale

bar:Saimon

bar:Moses

bar:Simeon

bar:Vurobaravu

PlotData =

width:5 align:left fontsize:s shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

bar:Sokomanu

from: 30/07/1980 till: 17/02/1984 color:VP

from: 08/03/1984 till: 12/01/1989 color:VP text:"Ati George Sokomanu"

bar:Timakata

from: 17/02/1984 till: 08/03/1984 color:VP

from: 30/01/1989 till: 30/01/1994 color:VP text:"Fred Timakata"

bar:Tahi

from: 12/01/1989 till: 30/01/1989 color:VP text:"Onneyn Tahi"

bar:Maseng

from: 30/01/1994 till: 02/03/1994 color:UMP

from: 12/04/2004 till: 11/05/2004 color:UMP text:"Alfred Maseng"

bar:Léyé

from: 02/03/1994 till: 02/03/1999 color:UMP text:"Jean-Marie Léyé"

bar:Natapei

from: 02/03/1999 till: 24/03/1999 color:VP text:"Edward Natapei"

bar:Bani

from: 24/03/1999 till: 24/03/2004 color:UMP text:"John Bani"

bar:Abiut

from: 24/03/2004 till: 12/04/2004 color:VLP

from: 11/05/2004 till: 28/07/2004 color:VLP text:"Roger Abiut"

bar:Moli

from: 28/07/2004 till: 16/08/2004 color:UMP text:"Josias Moli"

bar:Mataskelekele

from: 16/08/2004 till: 16/08/2009 color:NUP text:"Kalkot Mataskelekele"

bar:Korman

from: 16/08/2009 till: 02/09/2009 color:UMP text:"Maxime Carlot Korman"

bar:Abil

from: 02/09/2009 till: 02/09/2014 color:VP text:"Iolu Abil"

bar:Boedoro

from: 02/09/2014 till: 22/09/2014 color:VP text:"Philip Boedoro"

bar:Lonsdale

from: 22/09/2014 till: 17/06/2017 color:Ind text:"Baldwin Lonsdale"

bar:Saimon

from: 17/06/2017 till: 06/07/2017 color:MPP text:"Esmon Saimon"

bar:Moses

from: 06/07/2017 till: 06/07/2022 color:Ind text:"Tallis Obed Moses"

bar:Simeon

from: 06/07/2022 till: 23/07/2022 color:Ind text:"Seule Simeon"

bar:Vurobaravu

from: 23/07/2022 till: $now color:VP text:"Nikenike Vurobaravu"

}}

President of Vanuatu

List of presidents

Timeline

See also