Ishmael Kalsakau

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]

The Honourable
Ishmael Kalsakau
MP
Kalsakau in 2016
13th Prime Minister of Vanuatu
In office
4 November 2022 – 4 September 2023
PresidentNikenike Vurobaravu
Preceded byBob Loughman
Succeeded bySato Kilman
Deputy Prime Minister of Vanuatu
In office
21 April 2022 – 4 November 2022
Prime MinisterBob Loughman
Preceded byJotham Napat
Succeeded bySato Kilman
Minister of Internal Affairs of Vanuatu
In office
21 April 2022 – 4 November 2022
Prime MinisterBob Loughman
Preceded byAndrew Napuat
Personal details
BornNew Hebrides (now Vanuatu)
Political partyUnion of Moderate Parties

Career

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]

Political positions

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]

Family

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]

References
  1. "Vanuatu swears in new PM". THE STANDARD. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  2. "Vanuatu swears in new prime minister after snap election". bdnews24. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  3. Needham, Kirsty (2023-09-04). "Vanuatu parliament elects Sato Kilman as prime minister amid China-US rivalry in Pacific Islands". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  4. Wroe, David (14 April 2018). "Vanuatu's potential PM sounds the alarm on Chinese intentions". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. "MCA Vanuatu Steering Committee Meeting Minutes" (PDF). Millennium Challenge Account Vanuatu. October 27, 2005. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2018. Indigene lawyer, Ishmael Kalsakau was chosen collectively by the MCA Committee based on availability, aggressiveness or energetic, a good draftsman, rate of winning important cases in court, a good lawyer who can face the negotiation process
  6. Cain, Tess Newton (August 2, 2013). "Vanuatu: Supreme Court decides two important cases with implications for government stability". Development Policy Centre, Australian National University. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2018. The case of Kalsakau v Principal Electoral Officer & others was keenly watched as Ishmael Kalsakau, the Attorney-General (and unsuccessful candidate in last year's general election), challenged the results of the Port Vila election on two grounds.
  7. "Vanuatu Attorney-General criticised for taking back his post". Radio New Zealand. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  8. "Vanuatu opposition lodge no confidence motion". ABC News. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  9. "Kalsakau appointed new Attorney General". Vanuatu Daily Post. May 11, 2014. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Minister for Justice and Community Services, Christophe Emelee yesterday confirmed to Daily Post the appointment of Mr. Ishmael Kalsakau as New Attorney General (AG) for the Government of Vanuatu.
  10. Cullwick, Jonas (February 18, 2018). "Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau confirmed Opposition Leader". Archived from the original on April 15, 2018. It's been confirmed, Member of Parliament for Port Vila Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau is the Leader of the Opposition in this new Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu.
  11. Needham, Kirsty (16 August 2023). "Vanuatu prime minister survives no confidence motion in parliament". Reuters. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. "Vanuatu PM reshuffles cabinet ahead of no-confidence-motion". RNZ. 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  13. Prasad, Jinita; Kelly, Damian (2017). "Income Tax for Vanuatu??". PLN Advisory. Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2018-04-16. Opposition leader, Ishmael Kalsakau, has slammed the proposals, instead arguing that Vanuatu should explore more indirect forms of taxation, such as an overhaul of the VAT.
  14. "Kalsakau told to voluntarily resign". Fiji Times Limited. October 4, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018. Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Vanuatu Prime Minister Hilaire Bule has called on Leader of Opposition Ishmael Kalsakau to voluntarily resign over what he labeled "misleading statements" to the local media, last week.
  15. Ligo, Godwin (January 25, 2016). "Three Kalsakau brothers make Vanuatu political history – all elected". Archived from the original on April 15, 2018.
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