News of Napat's victory was welcomed by people living on the small island nation. Good choice, said Joe Warii, who heads a local church group helping victims of the disaster. Napat has vowed to restore public confidence in government after a series of corruption scandals dogged his predecessors. He will be formally appointed by President Nikenike Vurobaravu early next month. The prime minister-designate told reporters he had not yet decided whether he would retain current Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, who was sacked on Friday. Salwai is the fourth leader to lose power in less than 18 months.? Vanuatu's economy depends heavily on tourism and agriculture but faces increasing threats from climate change. The island nation of about 300,000 people lies about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to Australia.

Vanuatu Elects Ex-FM Napat as Prime Minister

Vanuatu's parliament has resoundingly elected a former foreign minister as premier less than two months after a deadly earthquake rocked the Pacific nation.

Jotham Napat, a senior disaster management official before entering politics, was backed to be prime minister by 50 of the 52 members of parliament. Two ballots were declared void.

Napat becomes Vanuatu's ninth prime minister since independence in 1980 and must quickly tackle the aftermath of February's earthquake, which killed 17 people and left thousands homeless.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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