The Honourable
Charlot Salwai
MP
Prime Minister of Vanuatu
Assumed office
6 October 2023
PresidentNikenike Vurobaravu
Preceded bySato Kilman
In office
11 February 2016 – 20 April 2020
President
DeputyJotham Napat
Preceded bySato Kilman
Succeeded byBob Loughman
MP for Pentecost
In office
2 May 2002 – 8 October 2021
Succeeded bySumptoh Blaise Tabisurin
Personal details
Born (1963-04-24) 24 April 1963
Pentecost Island, New Hebrides
Political partyReunification Movement for
Change
SpouseMarie-Justine Salwai
Residence(s)Port Vila, Vanuatu
OccupationAccountant
ProfessionPolitician

Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas (born 24 April 1963)[1] is a Vanuatuan politician, former accountant, and political advisor. He was the prime minister of Vanuatu from 2016 to 2020[2] and is the current prime minister following the ousting of Sato Kilman in a vote of no confidence on 6 October 2023.[3] He is the leader of the Reunification of Movements for Change (RMC), which is part of the Unity for Change bloc.

Biography

Born in 1963 on Pentecost Island,[2] Salwai learned to speak French as a teenager.[4] He attended Bourail College to obtain his General Education Certificate, Bourail Technical College to obtain his Technical Education Certificate, and Lycée Blaise Pascal in Nouméa for his Baccalauréat technologique G2.[1]

Salwai is a Protestant Christian and is able to speak some English. In the summer of 2017, he appeared in South Korea at the RUTC "World Remnant Conference".[5]

Salwai had previously served as Minister for Trade and Industries, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Minister for Education, Minister for Finance and Economic Management (2012–2013),[6] and Minister of Internal Affairs.[1][7] He has also served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Leader of the Opposition Whip, and Deputy Opposition Leader.[1]

On 11 February 2016, he was elected prime minister of Vanuatu in the 2016 Vanuatuan general election.[2] In August 2016, he was re-elected as leader of the RMC.[8] In late November 2016 Salwai survived an attempt at a motion of no-confidence, with MPs being divided on procedural points regarding the motion and attachment of a summons.[9] In August 2020, Salwai, former cabinet ministers Matai Seremaiah and Jerome Ludvaune and former MP Tom Korr were committed to the Supreme Court on charges of bribery and corruption over allegations he had bribed MPs who had signed the motion. Salwai was also charged with perjury.[10]

Salwai stood trial from 23 November 2020, charged with 10 counts of bribery and corruption.[11] He and his former Minister of Health were acquitted of bribery on 8 December.[12] On 16 December 2020, Salwai was convicted of perjury[13] and given a suspended sentence.[14] He was pardoned by the President of Vanuatu, Tallis Obed Moses, in September 2021, which restored his eligibility to run for public office.[15]

On 6 October 2023, Salwai was elected prime minister following the ousting of Sato Kilman in a vote of no confidence.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charlot Salwai.
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Hon. Charlot Salwai", Vanuatu Parliament, 20 January 2015
  2. 1 2 3 "Charlot Salwai elected Vanuatu PM", Radio New Zealand, 11 February 2016, retrieved 11 February 2016
  3. 1 2 "Charlot Salwai elected prime minister of Vanuatu", rnz.co.nz, 6 October 2023, retrieved 6 October 2023
  4. ↑ "Strengthening Pacific Ties". SPASIFIK. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ↑ "주보 :: 임마누엘서울교회". www.rutc24.kr. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas". parliament.gov.vu.
  7. ↑ Isno, Vira. "Hon. Charlot Salwai". Parliament of Vanuatu. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  8. ↑ Rita Narayan (26 August 2016). "PM Charlot Salwai retains position as national President of RMC". Loop Vanuatu. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  9. ↑ McGary, Dan (30 November 2016). "Vanuatu Prime Minister Survives No-Confidence Attempt". Pacific Islands Report. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Former Vanuatu PM and MPs referred to Supreme Court". RNZ. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  11. ↑ "Former Vanuatu PM to stand trial in November". RNZ. 10 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Former Vanuatu PM and MPs acquitted on corruption/bribery | RNZ News". Radio New Zealand. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Former Vanuatu prime minister found guilty of perjury". RNZ. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  14. ↑ Fox, Liam (2 February 2021). "Vanuatu's former prime minister Charlot Salwai avoids prison after being convicted of perjury". ABC News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "Vanuatu president pardons three former PMs". Radio New Zealand. 3 September 2021.
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