<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 30 July 1980
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> unified system being created from former dual French and British systems
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT Korman (since 16 December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Parliament:</hi> elections last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note—after election, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and the National United Party to form a new government on 16 December 1991, but political party associations are fluid; seats—(46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), Serge VOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party (NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; Nagriamel Party, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NA
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi> Vanuatu does not have a mission in the US
<item><hi format=bold>US diplomatic representation:</hi> the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow