Donald Kalpokas
Encyclopedia
Donald Masike'Vanua Kalpokas (born August 23, 1943) is a ni-Vanuatu
politician and diplomat who served as prime minister
of Vanuatu twice.
Kalpokas was born on Efate
island. Along with Walter Lini
he founded the Vanua'aku Pati
a political party which supported political independence for Vanuatu, socialist
policies, and drew most of its support from Vanuatu's English
-speaking population. Vanuatu did gain independence in 1980, with Lini as the country's first prime minister. Kalpokas became foreign minister
of Vanuatu in 1983 but gave up this position after a few months. He again became foreign minister in 1987, this time remaining in that post for four years.
On September 6, 1991 Kalpokas and some other members of the Vanua'aku Pati defected from Lini's government and supported a no confidence vote against him. Kalpokas then became the prime minister, to remain in office until after parliamentary elections. The elections resulted in the opposition Union of Moderate Parties
taking control of the government, and Kalpokas left office on December 16, 1991. The split in the Vanua'aku Party would remain permanent, as Lini left to start another political party.
In March 1998, following parliamentary elections which resulted in gains for the Vanua'aku Pati and Lini's National United Party, Kalpokas and Lini formed a coalition government. Kalpokas took office as prime minister
again on March 30, 1998. He also became foreign minister for a third time but soon gave up this post. Lini died in February 1999, but the government continued. It collapsed in November 1999 when Kalpokas resigned as prime minister to prevent a no confidence vote.
In 2001, after nearly a decade as leader of the Vanua'aku Pati, Kalpokas gave up the party leadership. In August 2004 he was a candidate to become President
of Vanuatu, and received 26 votes in the first round but then withdrew as it became clear that he would not be able to gain enough support.
In November 2007, he was appointed as Vanuatu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
politician and diplomat who served as prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Vanuatu twice.
Kalpokas was born on Efate
Éfaté
Efate is an island in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Maliki. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national...
island. Along with Walter Lini
Walter Lini
Father Walter Hadye Lini was an Anglican priest and the founding Prime Minister of Vanuatu. He was born on Pentecost Island. During the era when Vanuatu was a condominium ruled by the United Kingdom and France, Lini formed the Vanua'aku Pati, which was principally backed by English-speakers...
he founded the Vanua'aku Pati
Vanua'aku Pati
The Vanua'aku Pati is a political party in Vanuatu.At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 11 out of 52 seats, becoming the largest party in Parliament....
a political party which supported political independence for Vanuatu, socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
policies, and drew most of its support from Vanuatu's English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking population. Vanuatu did gain independence in 1980, with Lini as the country's first prime minister. Kalpokas became foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Vanuatu in 1983 but gave up this position after a few months. He again became foreign minister in 1987, this time remaining in that post for four years.
On September 6, 1991 Kalpokas and some other members of the Vanua'aku Pati defected from Lini's government and supported a no confidence vote against him. Kalpokas then became the prime minister, to remain in office until after parliamentary elections. The elections resulted in the opposition Union of Moderate Parties
Union of Moderate Parties
The Union of Moderate Parties is a conservative Francophone political party in Vanuatu.At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 7 out of 52 seats...
taking control of the government, and Kalpokas left office on December 16, 1991. The split in the Vanua'aku Party would remain permanent, as Lini left to start another political party.
In March 1998, following parliamentary elections which resulted in gains for the Vanua'aku Pati and Lini's National United Party, Kalpokas and Lini formed a coalition government. Kalpokas took office as prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
again on March 30, 1998. He also became foreign minister for a third time but soon gave up this post. Lini died in February 1999, but the government continued. It collapsed in November 1999 when Kalpokas resigned as prime minister to prevent a no confidence vote.
In 2001, after nearly a decade as leader of the Vanua'aku Pati, Kalpokas gave up the party leadership. In August 2004 he was a candidate to become President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Vanuatu, and received 26 votes in the first round but then withdrew as it became clear that he would not be able to gain enough support.
In November 2007, he was appointed as Vanuatu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.