Ishmael Kalsakau
Prime Minister of Vanuatu since 2022 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prime Minister of Vanuatu since 2022 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau is a Vanuatuan politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu from 4 November 2022[1][2] until 4 September 2023.[3] He is the head of the Union of Moderate Parties in Vanuatu.[4]
Ishmael Kalsakau | |
---|---|
13th Prime Minister of Vanuatu | |
In office 4 November 2022 – 4 September 2023 | |
President | Nikenike Vurobaravu |
Preceded by | Bob Loughman |
Succeeded by | Sato Kilman |
Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu | |
In office 21 April 2022 – 4 November 2022 | |
Prime Minister | Bob Loughman |
Preceded by | Jotham Napat |
Succeeded by | Sato Kilman |
Minister of Internal Affairs of Vanuatu | |
In office 21 April 2022 – 4 November 2022 | |
Prime Minister | Bob Loughman |
Preceded by | Andrew Napuat |
Personal details | |
Born | New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) |
Political party | Union of Moderate Parties |
In 2005, Kalsakau was appointed the Legal Counsel of MCA Vanuatu, the Vanuatuan component of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.[5]
Kalsakau was Attorney General of Vanuatu, but resigned the post to contest parliamentary elections.[6][7] After he lost, he returned to his post of Attorney General, raising concerns from Transparency International.[7] Following the 2012 general election, he alleged that three ministers, including Moana Carcasses Kalosil, engaged in vote buying to secure several seats in Port Vila.[8]
In 2014, Kalsakau was re-appointed Attorney General of the Government of Vanuatu.[9]
Kalsakau was confirmed as Leader of the Opposition in February 2016.[10]
Kalsakau became prime minister in 2022. In August 2023, he reshuffled his cabinet ahead of a confidence motion prompted by opposition to his security pact with Australia.[11][12] On 16 August, he survived the confidence motion by one vote.[11] The Supreme Court later ruled the motion successful and he was replaced by Sato Kilman on 4 September.[3]
Kalsakau criticized a government proposal to introduce income tax to Vanuatu, leading a government spokesman to call on him to resign for "misleading statements".[13][14]
Kalsakau has expressed skepticism regarding increased Chinese involvement in Vanuatu, as well as a lack of transparency regarding loans from China.[4]
Two of Kalsakau's brothers — Ephraim Kalsakau and Joshua Kalsakau — were also elected as Members of Parliament in 2016.[15] His father was First Chief Minister George Kalsakau, who was involved in negotiating Vanuatu's independence from France and the United Kingdom.[15]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.