11 female candidates contest Vanuatu Provincial elections
10th April, 2017
Library photo of Vanuatu Elections polling station. (PC: Vanuatu Digest)
March 21st, 2017. VANUATU has 11 female candidates contesting the four 2017 Provincial Elections this week.
The 11 female candidates are running in three Provinces of Penama, Shefa and Tafea while there is no female candidate contesting in Malampa Province.
A Women’s Advocacy Group, providing a voluntary coalition role in Vanuatu, told the Daily Post that they are pleased to note such a large number of women politicians contesting in the provincial elections for the first time in Vanuatu’s history.
Because of the electoral elections rule that ban political campaigns after midnight last night, the Women’s Advocacy Group say they cannot disclose which political parties the 11 female candidates are contesting their tickets, but simply state their appreciation to witness such a large number of female politicians contesting the provincial elections.
The Group said it is always healthy when both male and female participate at the highest political level decision making processes of the nation. They added that it is up to the population to choose a male or female candidate but they all they wish to express that this is the number highest number of female coming on the political scene.
Meanwhile, the provincial elections processes for Penama, Malampa, Shefa and Tafea are once again back on track.
This is after the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an application from the Jacque Meriango faction for a stay order following the court ruling earlier in the week that the faction led by Serge Vohor is the one allowed to use the Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) name, colour, slogan and logo at the elections.
The State representing the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Office argued that any stay order would severely hamper the work of holding the elections as all the deadlines and dates for logistical arrangements had been gazetted and made law.
(Source: The Vanuatu Independent News Magazine)