Longtime politicians Jimmy, Sope appear out
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Sept. 3, 2008) – One of Vanuatu’s longest serving politicians, who appears to have lost his seat in the country’s elections, says the people have spoken.
The country voted on Tuesday local time to elect members to its 52 seat parliament, but it will be some days before official results are released.
Early unofficial results suggest that Willie Jimmy, the serving minister of finance, who has been an MP for more than 20 years, has been ousted.
He says there’s a mood for change, especially amongst the youth, and he hopes it will benefit Vanuatu.
"The will of the people has spoken, the judges have made their decisions, and I believe that the decision that was taken by the people was fair, because of democracy that we believe in, and that’s how it stands, and we stand by it."
Willy Jimmy says the move by his party, the National United Party, to...