Only women will be allowed to contest in the upcoming Port Vila City Council by-election for the Freshwota/Tassiriki Ward seat, which was left vacant by Hon. Marie Louise Milne, the first and only woman MP elected under the reserved seat quota system.

Chairman of the Electoral Office, Edward Kaltamat, confirmed to VBTC News that male candidates will not be eligible to run in the by-election scheduled for 8 July 2025.

“We understand that one of the councillors who previously held this ward resigned to contest in the general elections, which resulted in the seat now being vacant — that is Hon. Marie Louise. If no runner met her 77% of votes, it is not possible to replace her through succession, so we have to conduct a fresh by-election in Port Vila City Council for the Freshwota-Tassiriki Ward,” said Kaltamat.

He emphasized, “This by-election will only be open to female candidates. If you are a girl or woman, you are eligible to apply because this seat is a reserved seat. Any male candidate who attempts to contest will be rejected by the commission.”

The reserved seat system is part of efforts to increase women’s representation in political leadership across Vanuatu.