Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau has been confirmed as Vanuatu's new prime minister, with Gloria Julia King becoming the first woman to enter the country's parliament in 14 years.
The new PM — who was deputy prime minister in the previous government — was selected, unopposed, by politicians on Friday and now leads a 30-member coalition involving five parties.
He acknowledged the previous government's "knowledge and wisdom" that guided Vanuatu through the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic turmoil.
The new PM also thanked Australia for providing defence force aircraft and helicopters during the snap election.
"I want to thank the government of Australia, who assisted us with swift support and facilitated smooth transportation of ballot boxes to remote places in Vanuatu," he said.
"I want to thank all people of the Republic of Vanuatu … who elected members of the current legislature.
"Now it's time for us to deliver on your expectations."
The election outcome follows more than two weeks of negotiations between elected MPs to form government, with two political blocs emerging to contest the leadership — one convened by the then-prime minister Bob Loughman, the other by former opposition leader Ralph Regenvanu.
Mr Kalsakau's Union of Moderates Parties (UMP) was previously aligned with Mr Loughman, but the UMP chose to side with political rivals in order to secure a majority in the country's parliament.
Despite shifting allegiances, Mr Loughman made the unexpected decision to support his former deputy as prime minister, nominating him as leader in parliament on Friday.
"It was always the intention of our group to elect the nominee of the other side [Mr Kalsakau] to become prime minister," Mr Loughman said.
The prime minister's appointment brings to close a dramatic chapter in Vanuatu politics, after Mr Loughman dissolved parliament in August to avoid a vote of no confidence against his government.
According to the opposition, dissolving parliament was unconstitutional and unlawful, but a court ruled the decision was legal, triggering the country's snap election.
Who is Ishmael Kalsakau?
Ishmael Kalsakau is a veteran politician, who has served as attorney-general and then leader of the opposition for several years.
Since 2020, he has been deputy prime minister in Mr Loughman's government.
Mr Kalsakau was recently elected as leader of his UMP party, and he has been a vocal critic of China's influence in the Pacific nation.
While leader of the opposition in 2018, he criticised China's growing influence in the Pacific, telling the ABC that Vanuatu was "blindly accepting the intervention of countries like China" without adequate scrutiny.
In government, Mr Kalsakau has led controversial attempts to reform Vanuatu's land laws by expanding powers of government ministers to lease Indigenous land.
First woman elected to Vanuatu's parliament in 14 years
As a mother, business operator and now politician, Gloria Julia King knows her new lifestyle will be a tricky balancing act.
She is the first female politician to be elected to Vanuatu's parliament in 14 years and hopes her victory inspires other women.
"I'm hoping to be able to advise, from this vantage point, as to how we can work towards getting more women into parliament," Ms King told the ABC's Pacific Beat.
Ms King is also only the sixth woman to be elected to Vanuatu's parliament since independence in 1980.
"A female voice in parliament lets all people in Vanuatu know that there is a female voice up there representing them," she said.
Ms King's election was one of the significant outcomes of Vanuatu's snap election, held on October 13.
'Julia is going to be a role model'
The Pacific has one of the lowest rates of female representation in politics.
Prior to Ms King's election, Vanuatu was one of only a handful of countries in the world with no women in government.
Anne Pakoa — the founder of the Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition — said the election marked a "big moment" for women in the country.
"It's a celebration for everyone," she said.
"We've waited a long time for this … I'm proud Julia got in, because she's one of the prominent women leaders and I know she has a strong voice."
Several women ran in the recent election and, in 2020, an all-female party was formed to try to improve gender balance in parliament.
That attempt failed but, with the Ms King taking up her seat in parliament, there are hopes other women will follow in her footsteps.
Melissa Fare — a communications professional and ni-Vanuatu student in Australia — said the election of Ms King was an inspiration to young women in the country.
"I'm a young woman who is very heavily into politics … Julia is setting the example and now Julia is going to be a role model," she said.
Election of woman MP heralds new era
Vanuatu-based journalist Dan McGarry also welcomed the election of Ms King to parliament, saying it marked the "beginning of a movement" in Vanuatu.
"Julia's victory is a victory for all women in Vanuatu, and that's something that nobody can take away from her or from the women of Vanuatu," he said.
"We should have six or eight women who are superlative candidates who did stand, who are yet to be elected, who could do as good or better job than any man that's currently there.
"I think that this is a grave injustice to the women of Vanuatu, to the people of Vanuatu generally."
Mr McGarry added that, under the new coalition government, there would likely be a "continuation of policies", including a focus on reviving the tourism sector, development projects and continuing a fight for climate justice in the world's highest court.
'I'm grateful we're a peaceful nation'
Ni-Vanuatu woman Gwen Amankwah-Toa — who lives in Brisbane — said she was relieved people were able to make their frustrations with the former government known through their vote.
However, she added, the decision to hold a snap election on October 13 was partly "disappointing", because of the costs involved.
"For democracy's sake, it was good that they went to elections so the people can decide who they want to be in government," she said.
And, she said, she was also relieved to see polling carried out smoothly.
"I'm really grateful that I think that we're a peaceful nation. And I think in some places you probably would have seen riots or things like that," she said.
"People just took it in their stride and, overall, we are very happy, peaceful people."
Jenny Ligo — chair of Vanuatu Women Against Crime and Corruption — congratulated the new prime minister but said she hoped the new government would do more to address issues with the electoral system.
"We want to see more transparency and accountability in the process, in the counting of votes and handling of ballot boxes … because a lot of times there is a lot of dispute," Ms Ligo said.
