Vanuatu - Head of Government

The Hon Edward Nipake Natapei took office as Prime Minister of Vanuatu in September 2008 following the victory of the Vanua’aku Pati at the 2 September general election. He previously served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2004.

Mr Natapei is concurrently Minister of Public Service.

He served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Utilities from 2007 to August 2008 during the Ham Lini administration. From 2005 to 2007 Mr Natapei was Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities.

He was Leader of the Opposition in 2000 after being elected Leader of Vanua’aku Pati in 1999. Mr Natapei was Acting President for a brief period from 2 to 24 March 1999. He was Speaker of Parliament from 1996 to 1999, and was briefly Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1991.

Mr Natapei was first elected to Parliament in 1983. Prior to that, he was First Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Commerce, Industry and Tourism in 1982.

Mr Natapei is a graduate of the Fiji Institute of Technology, Suva, Fiji Islands.

He was born on 17 July 1954.