Prime minister of Vanuatu
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The prime minister of Vanuatu is the effective head of the government of Vanuatu.
In accordance with Article 41 of Vanuatu's constitution, the prime minister is appointed by Parliament from amongst its members. The election is conducted with a secret ballot. Article 43 of the constitution allows for a prime minister to be removed by a vote of no confidence, although the motion which starts this process must be signed by at least a sixth of Parliament and must be presented a week in advance of the vote. In a vote of no confidence, a prime minister can be deposed by an absolute majority of Parliament, although he or she will continue to carry out the functions of office until a successor is elected.
The prime minister is the head of Vanuatu's cabinet, and is responsible for appointing and dismissing ministers. All ministerial appointments are tied to the prime minister's tenure, meaning that if a prime minister dies or resigns, the entire cabinet is dismissed.
The position of prime minister was created when Vanuatu obtained its independence in 1980, with independence campaigner Walter Lini becoming the office-holder. The position is sometimes seen as a continuation of the older office of Chief Minister, which existed before Vanuatu obtained its independence. So far, seven people have served as prime minister of Vanuatu, sometimes on multiple occasions.
