Vanuatu likely to lose its only female in parliament after snap election  

Unofficial vote counts show that Julia King, the country’s only female MP, has likely lost her seat.

King made history in 2022 as the first woman elected to Vanuatu's Parliament in more than a decade. She was only the sixth woman to serve in the legislature since the country gained independence in 1980.

This action can only be avoided if Marie Louis Milne, a candidate for the Port Vila constituency earns a slot in parliament. Milne claims to have won the sixth and final seat in her area, but a male candidate is also disputing the spot.

Milne said the support for women during the election was encouraging and showed progress in changing attitudes toward female leadership.

"We want to address key issues in Parliament, including women’s health and economic development," she told local reporters.

Despite setbacks for women, Milne remains hopeful and urged other female candidates to keep fighting.

“Don’t give up. Keep working in your communities, and in four years, we could see more women in Parliament,” she said.

The election had seven female candidates out of 217, a slight drop from 18 in 2020 but the same as in 2022.

Meanwhile, many familiar political figures are set to return, including leaders from seven major parties. However, several high-profile MPs are likely to lose their seats, including four-time Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

The election also saw some younger candidates emerging. Matai Kaltabang, a 28-year-old from Efate, could become one of the youngest MPs in the country’s history if elected.

The official election results are expected soon, as ballot boxes are still being transported to the capital, Port Vila. Parliament must meet for its first session within 21 days of the election.