Vanuatu is a multiparty parliamentary democracy with a
population of approximately 206 thousand. The constitution
provides for parliamentary elections based on universal suffrage
every four years. The 52‑member Parliament elects the prime
minister as the head of government. An electoral college
composed of the members of Parliament (MPs) and the chairmen of
the country's six provincial government councils elects the
president as the head of state for a five-year term. The
latter's powers are largely ceremonial. The Council of Chiefs
provides recommendations on matters relating to custom and
traditional practices. The most recent elections, held in July
2004, were considered generally free and fair. A coalition
government was formed, but in December 2004 Parliament ousted
Prime Minister Serge Vohor of the Union of Moderate Parties and
elected Ham Lini of the National United Party to replace him.
Lini's government, an eight-party coalition, enjoyed a rare
period of political stability during the year. The civil