{{short description|Prime Minister of Vanuatu from 2020 to 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bob Loughman | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | honorific_suffix = MP | image = Bob Loughman 2022.jpg | order = 12th | office = Prime Minister of Vanuatu | president = Tallis Obed Moses<br>Nikenike Vurobaravu | deputy = Ishmael Kalsakau | term_start = 20 April 2020 | term_end = 4 November 2022 | predecessor = Charlot Salwai | successor = Ishmael Kalsakau | office1 = Minister of Education | prime_minister1 = Moana Carcasses Kalosil<br>Joe Natuman | term_start1 = 23 March 2013 | term_end1 = 11 June 2015 | predecessor1 = Steven Kalsakau | successor1 = Alfred Carlot | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|3|8|df=y}} | birth_place = Tanna Island, New Hebrides {{small|(now Vanuatu)}} | party = Vanua'aku Pati | caption = Loughman in 2021 }} '''Bob Loughman Weibur'''<ref>[https://dailypost.vu/news/vanua-aku-party-to-field-candidates-in-election/article_d748e3a8-4d15-11ea-9630-af1ac9d99f58.html Vanua’aku Party to field 27 candidates in election], dailypost.vu, 12 February 2020</ref> (born 8 March 1961)<ref name="bio">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.vu/Members/10th%20Legislature%20Biography/Hon.%20Bob%20Loughman.html|title=Hon. Bob Loughman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130125719/https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/members/76-hon-bob-loughman |date=June 18, 2019|website=Parliament of the Republic of Vanuatu |archive-date=2019-11-30|last1=Isno|first1=Vira}}</ref> is a Vanuatuan politician who served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu between April 2020 and November 2022.<ref name="2020Guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/vanuatu-elects-new-prime-minister-as-country-reels-from-devastating-cyclone Vanuatu elects new prime minister as country reels from devastating cyclone] ''The Guardian'', 20 April 2020.</ref><ref name="2022barron">[https://www.barrons.com/news/vanuatu-parliament-votes-in-new-prime-minister-01667549407 Vanuatu Parliament Votes In New Prime Minister] ''Barron's'', 4 November 2022.</ref>
== Career == A member of the Vanua'aku Pati, he was first elected to Parliament as MP for Tanna in the general election on 6 July 2004. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012.<ref name="bio" /> In March 2013, following a change in government, new Prime Minister Moana Carcasses appointed him Minister for Education.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/nations-interest-first-carcasses "Nation's interest first: Carcasses"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329020142/http://www.dailypost.vu/content/nations-interest-first-carcasses |date=2013-03-29 }}, ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 26 mars 2013</ref>
Like other members of the Vanua'aku Pati, he crossed the floor on 15 May 2014 to help bring down the Carcasses government. New Prime Minister Joe Natuman maintained Loughman at his post as Minister for Education.<ref>[http://islandsbusiness.com/news/vanuatu/5385/natuman-names-cabinet-line-up/ "Natuman names cabinet line-up"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517152203/http://islandsbusiness.com/news/vanuatu/5385/natuman-names-cabinet-line-up/ |date=2014-05-17 }}, ''Vanuatu Digest'', 16 May 2014</ref> He lost office on 11 June 2015 when the Natuman government was ousted in a motion of no confidence.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-12/vanuatu-announces-new-cabinet-after-new-pm-sato-kilman-elected/6541328 "Vanuatu announces new cabinet after new prime minister Sato Kilman is elected"], Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 June 2015</ref>
From 2018 he is the leader of the Vanua'aku Pati.<ref>{{cite news |title=Natuman makes way for new Vanua'aku Pati leader |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/370082/natuman-makes-way-for-new-vanua-aku-pati-leader |access-date=28 September 2020 |agency=RNZ |date=2 November 2018}}</ref>
From 20 April 2020 to 4 November 2022, Loughman was in office as Prime Minister of Vanuatu.<ref name="2020Guardian" /><ref name="2022barron"/>
=== Diplomatic conflict with Indonesia over West Papua === Loughman is an open critic of the Indonesian government's handling of the situation in the West Papua region, and supports the cause of the separatist West Papuans. During the 2020 United Nations General Assembly address, Loughman called out Indonesia over human rights violations in the region, prompting a response from Indonesian diplomats who labeled his speech as having an "excessive and unhealthy obsession" with the cause of West Papua and accused Loughman of meddling in Indonesia's internal affairs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Septiari |first1=Dian |title=Indonesia calls out Vanuatu over Papua remarks at UNGA |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/09/29/indonesia-calls-out-vanuatu-over-papua-remarks-at-unga.html |work=The Jakarta Post |date=29 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Indonesia lashes out at Vanuatu over West Papua at the UN |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018765978/indonesia-lashes-out-at-vanuatu-over-west-papua-at-the-un |agency=RNZ |date=29 September 2020}}</ref>
=== 2021 no-confidence vote === On 1 June 2021, the opposition filed a no-confidence vote against Loughman over alleged excessive spending in the situation of national crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vanuatu and the impact of Cyclone Harold last year, both things which have negatively impacted Vanuatu's economy. This became the first attempt at ousting him in a country where analysts say, no-confidence votes are commonplace.<ref>{{cite news |title=No confidence motion filed against Vanuatu government |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/443791/no-confidence-motion-filed-against-vanuatu-government |access-date=1 June 2021 |agency=RNZ |date=1 June 2021}}</ref>
Following the boycott of parliament by government MPs for three days, partly to avoid the motion of no confidence, speaker Gracia Shadrack declared on 8 June 2021 that the seats of Loughman and 17 other MPs were vacant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/444254/legal-challenge-looms-after-vanuatu-speaker-declares-most-govt-seats-vacant|title=Legal challenge looms after Vanuatu speaker declares most govt seats vacant|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=8 June 2021}}</ref> Supreme Court Justice Oliver Saksak put a stay on the speaker's ruling until a court could formally consider the dispute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/444381/judge-stays-vanuatu-speaker-s-move|title=Judge stays Vanuatu Speaker's move|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=9 June 2021}}</ref> On 18 June 2021, Saksak confirmed that 19 government MPs including Loughman had lost their seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/445045/vanuatu-supreme-court-confirms-19-govt-mps-lose-seats|title=Vanuatu Supreme Court confirms 19 Govt MPs lose seats|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=18 June 2021}}</ref> An appeal court also rejected the MPs case in July 2021<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018804325/vanuatu-appeal-court-denies-govt-mps-appeal|title=Vanuatu appeal court denies govt MPs appeal|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=17 July 2021}}</ref> but the 19 MPs finally won in the appeal court on 28 October 2021, keeping their seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/455309/revenge-for-vanuatu-govt-as-mp-suspended|title=Revenge for Vanuatu govt as MP suspended|publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=9 November 2021}}</ref>
=== 2022 no-confidence motion === A new no-confidence motion was avoided in August 2022 by Vanuatu's president dissolving Parliament at short notice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/19/vanuatus-president-dissolves-parliament-to-avoid-ousting-of-prime-minister|newspaper=The Guardian |title=Vanuatu's president dissolves parliament to avoid ousting of prime minister|date=19 August 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{commons category}} {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Charlot Salwai}} {{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Vanuatu|years=2020–2022}} {{s-aft|after=Ishmael Kalsakau}} {{s-end}}
{{VanuatuPMs}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Loughman, Bob}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Government ministers of Vanuatu Category:Members of the Parliament of Vanuatu Category:Prime ministers of Vanuatu Category:People from Tafea Province Category:Vanua'aku Pati politicians Category:21st-century Vanuatuan politicians