By Hilaire Bule, RNZ Pacific correspondent in Port Vila
Talks among Vanuatu political parties have started for the formation of a coalition government following Thursday’s snap election.
The talks have started as it appears that none of the political parties which contested the ballot won a simple majority in the 52-seat Parliament.
Sources from former government, and former opposition members have revealed that leaders of political parties who have won seats in Parliament following unofficial results have begun negotiations for the formation of a new government.
They said that so far both sides wanted to form a new government, but it would depend very much on the numbers that they have secured.
Ballot boxes from isolated areas in Vanuatu had not yet reached the main centres to be shipped to the capital, Port Vila.
A helicopter was yesterday still collecting the ballot boxes from isolated areas in the constituency of Santo.
According to political analysts, the lobby for the formation of a new government would not be easy because — according to the unofficial results — four former prime ministers had managed to be re-elected as members of Parliament.
They said that all four would want to be prime minister again.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
