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Edward Nipake Natapei Tuta Fanua`araki (born 1954) is a politician from Vanuatu who is currently Deputy Prime Minister. He was the foreign minister briefly during 1991, the acting President of Vanuatu from March 2, 1999 to March 24, 1999, during a time in which he was the speaker of parliament, and the Prime Minister from 2001 until 2004. He is the President of the Vanua'aku Pati, a socialist, Anglophone political party.
Natapei was first elected to parliament in 1983. In 1996, he was elected speaker of parliament, and in 1999 he was elected President of Vanua'aku Pati.[1] In a parliamentary vote on November 25, 1999, Natapei was a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, but was defeated by Barak Sopé, receiving 24 votes against 28 for Sope.[2] When Sopé lost a vote of no confidence, Natapei became Prime Minister on April 13, 2001, receiving 27 votes in parliament, with one vote against him.[3] He retained the position after the May 2002 election.[4] Even though his party performed poorly in the July 2004 election, he was re-elected as a member of parliament for Port Vila Constituency with the highest number of votes. He supported Ham Lini for the post of Prime Minister, but Lini was defeated; however, Serge Vohor was ousted in a motion of no confidence and Ham Lini was elected Prime Minister. Being Vanua'aku Party President entitled him to the post of Speaker of the House, which he declined and relegated it to Sam Dan Avock, currently serving as a Party Executive Member.
Natapei became Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities in the Lini-led government in July 2005.[1] A split in Vanua'aku Pati was resolved in August 2005, and Natapei was re-elected as President of the party,[5][6] receiving 124 votes against 67 for Sela Molisa.[6] In late July 2007 he became Minister of Public Utilities again, replacing Serge Vohor, as well as becoming Deputy Prime Minister.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Biographies of Speakers: Pacific 2020 Conference", AusAID.
- ^ "Nov 1999 - New government", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 45, November, 1999 Vanuatu, Page 43269.
- ^ "Apr 2001 - New government", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 47, April, 2001 Vanuatu, Page 44111.
- ^ "May 2002 - Legislative elections", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 48, May, 2002 Vanuatu, Page 44795.
- ^ "Vanuaaku Pati mends split and re-elects Edward Natapei as its leader", Radio New Zealand International, August 31, 2005.
- ^ a b "Former PM to lead reunified party in Vanuatu", ABC Radio Australia, August 31, 2005.
- ^ "Vanuatu reshuffles cabinet again", ABC Radio Australia, July 30, 2007.
