Maxime Carlot Korman
Encyclopedia
Maxime Carlot Korman is a ni-Vanuatu
politician, formerly serving as Speaker of the Parliament and formerly as acting President. He served as Prime minister
of Vanuatu for nearly five years, first from 16 December 1991 to 21 December 1995 and again from 23 February 1996 to 30 September 1996. He was a member of the Union of Moderate Parties
during his terms as prime minister, but now leads the Vanuatu Republican Party
. He was the first Speaker of Parliament after independence, from 1980 to 1983, and also served in that capacity just before independence.
Maxime Carlot Korman became Prime Minister following the Union of Moderate Parties's victory in the 1991 election, which came after the split in the ruling Vanua'aku Party. He was the first francophone
Prime Minister of Vanuatu, following the anglophone
Walter Lini
's government throughout the 1980s.
Maxime Carlot Korman's foreign policy
marked a distinct break with Lini's. He "reversed [the country's] unequivocal support for the Kanak National Liberation Front
in New Caledonia
, its systematic enmity towards France
, its flirting with radical regimes, and its openly anti-American nuclear-free Pacific stance."
Following the 1995 election Maxime Carlot Korman was replaced as Prime Minister by Serge Vohor
, a dissident leader of his own party. Two months later Maxime Carlot Korman was able to accumulate enough support to oust Vohor and regain control of the party and the premiership, but after seven months he was again deposed in a 27-22 no confidence vote and replaced by Vohor. Maxime Carlot Korman was never again able to regain leadership of the Union of Moderate Parties. He had also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs
from 1993 to 1995. Following his terms as Prime Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman broke away from the Union of Moderate Parties to form the Vanuatu Republican Party
, which he still leads.
Following the July 2004 election, Maxime Carlot Korman became Deputy Prime Minister under Vohor, but was replaced a month later when a national coalition took office.
He was Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities for a time, but was removed from this post and replaced by Edward Natapei
in July 2005.
Maxime Carlot Korman and the Republican Party remained in the governing coalition, and Maxime Carlot Korman eventually became Minister of Lands. In July 2007, Maxime Carlot Korman and his son were faced with corruption allegations involving land deals, which Korman strongly denied.
Following the September 2008 general election
, Maxime Carlot Korman was a candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the parliamentary vote held on 22 September, but was defeated by Natapei, receiving 25 votes against 27 for Natapei.
However, he was elected to be the Speaker of Parliament. On 18 August 2009, when the term of the President of Vanuatu expired, Korman became acting President in his capacity as Speaker of Parliament until the election of a successor
on 2 September 2009.
George Wells
replaced him as Speaker in January 2010, before resigning in December, whereupon Korman was elected anew to the position.
In September 2011, after he had "rigidly applied standing orders to stop the [ Kilman
] government bringing in a supplementary budget", he was removed as Speaker by the government's parliamentary majority. Ironically, as "Senior Member of Parliament" (Father of the House
), he was then called upon to preside over the election of a new Speaker, which he reportedly "readily agreed" to. The government's candidate, Dunstan Hilton, was elected unopposed. A few days later, the government introduced a motion to suspend Korman from Parliament altogether for the remainder of its term, which Radio New Zealand International
described as the government's way of "punish[ing him] for his controversial rulings". The motion was passed by twenty-six votes out of fifty-two. Korman announced he would appeal to the courts.
Ni-Vanuatu
Ni-Vanuatu is a demonym used to refer to all Melanesian ethnicities originating in Vanuatu.It also refers, more generally, to nationals and citizens of Vanuatu, whatever their ethnicity....
politician, formerly serving as Speaker of the Parliament and formerly as acting President. He served as Prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Vanuatu for nearly five years, first from 16 December 1991 to 21 December 1995 and again from 23 February 1996 to 30 September 1996. He was a member of the Union of Moderate Parties
Union of Moderate Parties
The Union of Moderate Parties is a conservative Francophone political party in Vanuatu.At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 7 out of 52 seats...
during his terms as prime minister, but now leads the Vanuatu Republican Party
Vanuatu Republican Party
The Vanuatu Republican Party is a political party in Vanuatu.At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 7 out of 52 seats. Its leader is Maxime Carlot Korman, who was previously a member of the Union of Moderate Parties and had served as Prime Minister of Vanuatu while a...
. He was the first Speaker of Parliament after independence, from 1980 to 1983, and also served in that capacity just before independence.
Maxime Carlot Korman became Prime Minister following the Union of Moderate Parties's victory in the 1991 election, which came after the split in the ruling Vanua'aku Party. He was the first francophone
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Prime Minister of Vanuatu, following the anglophone
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Walter Lini
Walter Lini
Father Walter Hadye Lini was an Anglican priest and the founding Prime Minister of Vanuatu. He was born on Pentecost Island. During the era when Vanuatu was a condominium ruled by the United Kingdom and France, Lini formed the Vanua'aku Pati, which was principally backed by English-speakers...
's government throughout the 1980s.
Maxime Carlot Korman's foreign policy
Foreign relations of Vanuatu
Vanuatu maintains relations with more than 65 countries, and has a very modest network of diplomatic missions. However, only Australia, France, New Zealand, and the People's Republic of China maintain embassies, high commissions, or missions in Port Vila. The British High Commission closed in 2005...
marked a distinct break with Lini's. He "reversed [the country's] unequivocal support for the Kanak National Liberation Front
Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front
The Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front is a militant socialist pro-independence alliance of political parties in New Caledonia. It was founded in 1984 at a congress of various political parties, mainly indigenous but also of disgruntled and progressive New Caledonians of European...
in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, its systematic enmity towards France
France–Vanuatu relations
The French Republic & the Republic of Vanuatu have long-standing bilateral relations which have varied over the years between tense and amicable. Vanuatu, then known as the New Hebrides, was a Franco-British Condominium from 1906 to 1980, and maintained formal relations with both of its former...
, its flirting with radical regimes, and its openly anti-American nuclear-free Pacific stance."
Following the 1995 election Maxime Carlot Korman was replaced as Prime Minister by Serge Vohor
Serge Vohor
Rialuth Serge Vohor is a politician from Vanuatu. He hails from the largest island of Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, from Port Olry.He is a member of the Union of Moderate Parties, a conservative, Francophone political party. When his party came to power in 1991, Vohor became foreign minister of Vanuatu...
, a dissident leader of his own party. Two months later Maxime Carlot Korman was able to accumulate enough support to oust Vohor and regain control of the party and the premiership, but after seven months he was again deposed in a 27-22 no confidence vote and replaced by Vohor. Maxime Carlot Korman was never again able to regain leadership of the Union of Moderate Parties. He had also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
from 1993 to 1995. Following his terms as Prime Minister, Maxime Carlot Korman broke away from the Union of Moderate Parties to form the Vanuatu Republican Party
Vanuatu Republican Party
The Vanuatu Republican Party is a political party in Vanuatu.At the last legislative elections, 1 September 2008, the party won 7 out of 52 seats. Its leader is Maxime Carlot Korman, who was previously a member of the Union of Moderate Parties and had served as Prime Minister of Vanuatu while a...
, which he still leads.
Following the July 2004 election, Maxime Carlot Korman became Deputy Prime Minister under Vohor, but was replaced a month later when a national coalition took office.
He was Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities for a time, but was removed from this post and replaced by Edward Natapei
Edward Natapei
Edward Nipake Natapei Tuta Fanua`araki is a politician from Vanuatu. He was elected Prime Minister of Vanuatu on two separate terms, and was previously the Minister of Foreign Affairs briefly in 1991, the acting President of Vanuatu from 2 March 1999 to 24 March 1999 , and Deputy Prime Minister...
in July 2005.
Maxime Carlot Korman and the Republican Party remained in the governing coalition, and Maxime Carlot Korman eventually became Minister of Lands. In July 2007, Maxime Carlot Korman and his son were faced with corruption allegations involving land deals, which Korman strongly denied.
Following the September 2008 general election
Vanuatuan general election, 2008
Parliamentary elections were held in Vanuatu on September 2, 2008. In July, the Melanesian Progressive Party requested that they be postponed, contesting the constitutionality of the Peoples Representation Act No. 33 of 2007, which allegedly enabled voters in certain constituencies to vote in two...
, Maxime Carlot Korman was a candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the parliamentary vote held on 22 September, but was defeated by Natapei, receiving 25 votes against 27 for Natapei.
However, he was elected to be the Speaker of Parliament. On 18 August 2009, when the term of the President of Vanuatu expired, Korman became acting President in his capacity as Speaker of Parliament until the election of a successor
Vanuatuan presidential election, 2009
An indirect presidential election was held in Vanuatu on 1 September and 2 September 2009. The electors are the 52 MPs and the six heads of provincial governments; ten signatures of support are required for nomination...
on 2 September 2009.
George Wells
George Wells (politician)
George Andre Wells is a Ni-Vanautu politician and Member of Parliament. He is a member of the National United Party. Wells served as the Foreign Minister of Vanuatu, as well as the Internal Affairs Minister until 2007....
replaced him as Speaker in January 2010, before resigning in December, whereupon Korman was elected anew to the position.
In September 2011, after he had "rigidly applied standing orders to stop the [ Kilman
Sato Kilman
Sato Kilman is a Vanuatu politician. He was Prime Minister of Vanuatu from December 2010 to April 2011 and from May to June 2011, though his premiership was subsequently annulled by a court of law. He was elected Prime Minister again on 26 June 2011, thus beginning his first legally recognised term...
] government bringing in a supplementary budget", he was removed as Speaker by the government's parliamentary majority. Ironically, as "Senior Member of Parliament" (Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
), he was then called upon to preside over the election of a new Speaker, which he reportedly "readily agreed" to. The government's candidate, Dunstan Hilton, was elected unopposed. A few days later, the government introduced a motion to suspend Korman from Parliament altogether for the remainder of its term, which Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International
Radio New Zealand International , a division of Radio New Zealand, is the official international broadcasting station of New Zealand. It broadcasts a variety of news, current affairs and sports programmes in English and news in seven Pacific languages...
described as the government's way of "punish[ing him] for his controversial rulings". The motion was passed by twenty-six votes out of fifty-two. Korman announced he would appeal to the courts.