Only indigenous Ni-Vanuatu will be able to contest provincial and national elections in a key reform at the top of the government’s 100-day plan.
This reform plan bought cries of ‘racism’ from the opposition ranks of parliament.
The 100-day plan’s expected outcome for this electoral reform is to strengthen citizenship program governance, enhance public trust in citizenship processes plus the preservation of national identity, and strengthening cultural representation in governance.
The focus will be on naturalized citizens, specifying that ‘only third generation citizens will be included to contest elections.’
Leader of Opposition Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau said that this priority can be described as legitimizing racism by the current government.
He said that creators of the constitution intended in a precondition to independence that citizenry was to be accorded without discrimination.
Article 17 of the Constitution states that every citizen of Vanuatu who is at least 25 years of age shall be eligible to stand for election to Parliament.
“The effect of this proposed amendment, which must undergo a referendum, potentially creates a classification of citizenry that will create division within society and it is an open call by Vanuatu Government to legitimize racism”, said the Opposition Leader.
He said that what the Government needed to address was the more immediate problem of the inability of leaders to properly represent their constituents which is the crux of the issue and there are elements within the current Government who may find themselves disqualified from contesting future elections.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Epi Constituency, Robert Bohn, who is a naturalized citizen, said it was too early for him to comment on the matter.
Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, said that the government will comment on the matter soon.
Meanwhile, the President of National Youth Council, Morry Ruben said the council is in favor with the government’s directive policy to only allow Ni- Vanuatu indigenous citizens to contest elections.
“Vanuatu has provided the equal rights to naturalize citizens same as us indigenous and this policy directive will safeguard the youth in the future if some of them want to pursue careers in politics and will have space to become a Member of Parliament one day”, Ruben said.
Vanuatu has two naturalized citizens elected to parliament in this legislature.
The Electoral Commission under the Ministry of Internal Affairs was tasked by the government to lead on that priority.
