# 1987 Vanuatuan general election

General elections were held in Vanuatu on 30 November 1987. Ni-Vanuatu voters were invited to elect the 46 members of an expanded national Parliament, which had previously held 39 seats.
The ruling Vanua'aku Pati maintained its absolute majority, with 26 seats, while the Union of Moderate Parties obtained 19. The Vanua'aku Pati received slightly less than 50% of the popular vote, while the UMP received 40%. Walter Lini of the Vanua'aku Pati remained Prime Minister. Voter turnout was 71.6%.
Important issues in the election included domestic economic reforms (such as liberalising the economy) and the accommodation of the Francophone population.

## Electoral system

Most members were elected through single non-transferable voting in multi-seat districts having two to six members each. Four members were elected through first-past-the-post voting.

## Results

| | Vanua'aku Pati | 26,617 | 47.28 | 26 | +2 |
| | Union of Moderate Parties | 22,443 | 39.87 | 19 | +6 |
| | New People's Party | 1,418 | 2.52 | 0 | New |
| | Friend Melanesian Party | 1,119 | 1.99 | 1 | 0 |
| | National Democratic Party | 879 | 1.56 | 0 | New |
| | Nagriamel | 766 | 1.36 | 0 | –1 |
| | Vanuatu Independent Alliance Party | 442 | 0.79 | 0 | 0 |
| | Vanuatu Labour Party | 322 | 0.57 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 2,288 | 4.06 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 56,294 | 100.00 | 46 | +7 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 56,294 | 99.33 | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 382 | 0.67 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 56,676 | 100.00 | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 79,113 | 71.64 | | |
| Source: Official Gazette, Nohlen et al. ||||||

### By constituency

| Constituency | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| Ambae | Onneyn Tahi | Vanua'aku Pati | 884 | 24.30 |
| Ambae | Samson Bue | UMP | 772 | 21.22 |
| Ambae | Harold Colin Qualao | Vanua'aku Pati | 766 | 21.06 |
| Ambae | Amos Bangabiti | UMP | 641 | 17.62 |
| Ambae | John Tari Morris | Nagriamel | 249 | 6.84 |
| Ambae | James Mera | Vanua'aku Pati | 232 | 6.38 |
| Ambae | James Horo | New People's Party | 94 | 2.58 |
| Ambrym | Amos Adeng | UMP | 1,469 | 46.84 |
| Ambrym | Jack Tungon Hopa | Vanua'aku Pati | 863 | 27.52 |
| Ambrym | Welwel Andrew | Vanua'aku Pati | 654 | 20.85 |
| Ambrym | Kevin Jonathan | New People's Party | 150 | 4.78 |
| Banks and Torres | Charles Godden | Vanua'aku Pati | 793 | 34.31 |
| Banks and Torres | Luke Titinsom Dini | UMP | 703 | 30.42 |
| Banks and Torres | Derek Lulum Vanva | Vanua'aku Pati | 551 | 23.84 |
| Banks and Torres | Norman Roslyn | Independent | 264 | 11.42 |
| Efate | Andes Jacques Carlot | UMP | 1,086 | 20.54 |
| Efate | Joel Pakoalao Mansale | UMP | 1,074 | 20.31 |
| Efate | Donald Kalpokas | Vanua'aku Pati | 934 | 17.67 |
| Efate | Chilia Jimmy Meto | Vanua'aku Pati | 920 | 17.40 |
| Efate | Tele Taun | Vanua'aku Pati | 912 | 17.25 |
| Efate | James Kenneth Satungia | Labour | 244 | 4.62 |
| Efate | Kalosike Edith Matautotau | National Democratic | 117 | 2.21 |
| Epi | Jimmy Simon | Vanua'aku Pati | 790 | 54.94 |
| Epi | J. Kalala Waiwo | UMP | 442 | 30.74 |
| Epi | Reggie Robert | New People's Party | 206 | 14.33 |
| Luganville | Alfred Maseng | UMP | 1,063 | 46.44 |
| Luganville | Edgell William | Vanua'aku Pati | 542 | 23.68 |
| Luganville | Arusiro Willie | Vanua'aku Pati | 386 | 16.86 |
| Luganville | Joel Cyrus | Vanuatu Independent Alliance Party | 169 | 7.38 |
| Luganville | Noel Takau | New People's Party | 98 | 4.28 |
| Luganville | Thomas Reynolds | Labour | 31 | 1.35 |
| Maewo | Roger Jerry Boe | Vanua'aku Pati | 539 | 56.38 |
| Maewo | Tom Sigo | UMP | 161 | 16.84 |
| Maewo | Ezechiel Toa | Independent | 145 | 15.17 |
| Maewo | Frederick Boe | Independent | 111 | 11.61 |
| Malekula | Lingtamat Anatole | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,229 | 14.54 |
| Malekula | Sethy Regenvanu | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,072 | 12.68 |
| Malekula | Adrien Malere | UMP | 926 | 10.95 |
| Malekula | Paul Telukluk | UMP | 890 | 10.53 |
| Malekula | Aileh Rantes | Vanua'aku Pati | 881 | 10.42 |
| Malekula | Simeon Ennis | Vanua'aku Pati | 822 | 9.72 |
| Malekula | Aime Claude Malere | UMP | 685 | 8.10 |
| Malekula | Willion Willy | Vanua'aku Pati | 599 | 7.08 |
| Malekula | Fidel Dra Fabian | UMP | 488 | 5.77 |
| Malekula | Edson David | National Democratic | 331 | 3.91 |
| Malekula | Nacisse Fred | Friend Melanesian | 277 | 3.28 |
| Malekula | Jerry Donabit | New People's Party | 155 | 1.83 |
| Malekula | Hollingson Issachar | National Democratic | 91 | 1.08 |
| Malekula | Malsekan Jean Baotuste | Independent | 9 | 0.11 |
| Other Southern Islands | Edward Natapei | Vanua'aku Pati | 606 | 54.74 |
| Other Southern Islands | Leye Christophe | UMP | 461 | 41.64 |
| Other Southern Islands | Naupa John | National Democratic | 40 | 3.61 |
| Paama | William Mahit | Vanua'aku Pati | 553 | 51.35 |
| Paama | Mael William | UMP | 524 | 48.65 |
| Pentecost | Walter Lini | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,392 | 29.19 |
| Pentecost | Vincent Boulekone | UMP | 1,094 | 22.94 |
| Pentecost | Gaetano Bulewak | UMP | 849 | 17.80 |
| Pentecost | Basile Tabi | Vanua'aku Pati | 620 | 13.00 |
| Pentecost | Luke Fargo | Vanua'aku Pati | 572 | 11.99 |
| Pentecost | Job W. Tabi | Independent | 159 | 3.33 |
| Pentecost | Frazer Sine | New People's Party | 83 | 1.74 |
| Port Vila | Maxime Carlot Korman | UMP | 999 | 20.16 |
| Port Vila | Willie Jimmy | UMP | 945 | 19.07 |
| Port Vila | Maria Crowby | UMP | 671 | 13.54 |
| Port Vila | Hilda Lini | Vanua'aku Pati | 602 | 12.15 |
| Port Vila | Barak Sopé | Vanua'aku Pati | 524 | 10.57 |
| Port Vila | Kalpokor Kalsakau | Vanua'aku Pati | 520 | 10.49 |
| Port Vila | Albert Sandy | Vanua'aku Pati | 343 | 6.92 |
| Port Vila | Frank Abel | New People's Party | 175 | 3.53 |
| Port Vila | Franck Bakeo Spooner | National Democratic | 139 | 2.80 |
| Port Vila | George Kaltoi Kalsakau | Labour | 38 | 0.77 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Sela Molisa | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,250 | 17.38 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Serge Vohor | UMP | 1,093 | 15.20 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Harry Karaeru | UMP | 946 | 13.15 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Rene Luc | Friend Melanesian | 842 | 11.71 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Vuro Baravu Andrew Molieno | UMP | 807 | 11.22 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Kavcor Wass | Vanua'aku Pati | 750 | 10.43 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Sarki Robert | Vanua'aku Pati | 715 | 9.94 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Thomas Ruben Seru | Vanuatu Independent Alliance Party | 273 | 3.80 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | James Tangis Indofon | Nagriamel | 264 | 3.67 |
| Santo–Malo–Aore | Dom Dimala | Nagriamel | 253 | 3.52 |
| Shepherds | David Karie | Vanua'aku Pati | 531 | 29.83 |
| Shepherds | Fred Timakata | Vanua'aku Pati | 419 | 23.54 |
| Shepherds | Raymond Clay | UMP | 376 | 21.12 |
| Shepherds | Jimmy Tasso | New People's Party | 293 | 16.46 |
| Shepherds | Api Toara | National Democratic | 161 | 9.04 |
| Tanna | Henry Iouiou | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,120 | 14.17 |
| Tanna | Iaris Naunun | UMP | 1,059 | 13.40 |
| Tanna | Iolu Abil | Vanua'aku Pati | 1,040 | 13.16 |
| Tanna | Keasipai Song | UMP | 1,000 | 12.66 |
| Tanna | Daniel Iamiham | Vanua'aku Pati | 691 | 8.74 |
| Tanna | Kawai Thompson | UMP | 646 | 8.18 |
| Tanna | Nango Charley | UMP | 573 | 7.25 |
| Tanna | Korisa Willie | Independent | 510 | 6.45 |
| Tanna | Silas Iaunam | Independent | 449 | 5.68 |
| Tanna | Nicklam Jonathan Jimmy | Independent | 423 | 5.35 |
| Tanna | Tom Numake | Independent | 183 | 2.32 |
| Tanna | Jeffry Lahva | New People's Party | 164 | 2.08 |
| Tanna | Kapum Jack | Independent | 35 | 0.44 |
| Tanna | Willie Ioba | Labour | 9 | 0.11 |

## Aftermath

In 1988 five MPs led by Barak Sopé left the Vanua'aku Pati and created the Melanesian Progressive Party. The five were subsequently expelled from Parliament on 24 July 1988 by the Speaker Onneyn Tahi at the request of the Lini government, invoking a 1983 law that automatically vacates the seats of MPs who change political party during the parliamentary term. Sopé and Maxime Carlot, the leader of the Union of Moderate Parties then described Lini as a "dictator" and 18 of the 20 UMP deputies started boycotting Parliament. On 27 July, after being absent from Parliament for three consecutive days, the 18 deputies were also expelled by Tahi, who considered that they had resigned their seats. In September the Supreme Court confirmed the legality of the dismissal of the 23 MPs, opening the way to the holding of by-elections. The only two UMP MPs who were not expelled were Vincent Boulekone and Gaetano Bulewak, who refused to go along with the UMP's boycott strategy. They were subsequently excluded from the UMP and founded the Tan Union.
The by-elections of 1988 and 1989 were boycotted by the UMP and the Melanesian Progressive Party, with most seats won by the Vanua'aku Pati.