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Year in Review 1998:
world-affairs |
[ http://search.eb.com/eb/article?eu=136689
]
Area: 12,190 sq km (4,707 sq mi)
Population (1998 est.): 182,000
Capital:
Chief of state: President Jean-Marie Leye
Head of government: Prime Ministers Serge Vohor and, from March 30, Donald Kalpokas
In a national election in March 1998 for 52 seats in
Parliament, the Vanua'aku (Unity Front) Party won 18,
the Union of Moderate Parties 12, the National United Party 11, and others 11.
Donald Kalpokas, leader of the Vanua'aku
Party and former vice president, formed a coalition government with the
National United Party on March 30. The coalition collapsed within a few months,
after which Kalpokas formed a new coalition with the
Union of Moderate Parties.
Despite the previous government's repeal of enabling
legislation, Kalpokas's government maintained the
office of ombudsman. Ombudsman Marie-Noelle Ferrieux-Patterson
had been criticized because of a series of damning reports on ministerial behaviour and corruption in government--most recently over
the illegal issue of passports, misuse of cyclone-relief funds by the prime
minister, and the misappropriation of retirement funds; the latter led to riots
and a state of emergency when subscribers tried to withdraw their savings.
During the year the government announced the privatization of airports and in
August introduced a 12.5% value-added tax.