Port Vila generic - people walking at seafront Photo: RNZ Pacific / Kelvin Anthony
Voters in Vanuatu will go to the polls for a snap election on 14 January next year.
This comes after President Nikenike Vurobaravu dissolved parliament two weeks ago.
The government and the president, at that time, were both about to face votes of no confidence.
Vanuatu has been riven by political instability, with frequent elections and changes of leadership in recent years.
The snap election comes despite the people of Vanuatu supporting referendums earlier this year, aimed at establishing greater political stability in the country.
The changes aim to make it more difficult for MPs to shift their allegiance.
The resulting law changes were not gazetted by the government when the dissolution of parliament was announced.
The Vanuatu Electoral Office said registrations close today, 3 December, with qualitied candidates to be announced on 31 December.
On the same day, campaigning will be officially allowed to begin.
The current government, led by Charlot Salwai, came to power after ousting Sato Kilman in a vote of no-confidence in October 2023.
Kilmam himself [https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/497262/sato-kilman-elected-as-vanuatu-s-new-prime-minister won power after a snap election in September 2023, following a leadership challenge against Ishmael Kalsakau.
Then in November last year Salwai successfully defeated a vote of no confidence.
