{{Infobox political party | name = Eagle Group | native_name = Iauko Grup | logo = Logo of the Iauko Group.png | colorcode = {{party color|Iauko Group}} | abbreviation = IG | leader = Marc Ati | founder = Harry Iauko | split = Vanua'aku Pati | founded = {{Start date|2012|4|12|df=yes}} | ideology = | position = | colours = {{color box|{{party color|Iauko Group}}|border=darkgray}} Blue | slogan = Unity for All! | seats1_title = Parliament | seats1 = {{Composition bar|6|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} | website = [https://www.facebook.com/IAUKOGROUP Facebook page] | country = Vanuatu }}{{Politics of Vanuatu}}

The '''Iauko Group''' ({{langx|bi|Iauko Grup}}) or '''Eagle Group''' is a political party in Vanuatu.

==History== The party was established by Harry Iauko after he left the Vanua'aku Pati prior to the 2012 general elections.<ref name=TL>Tom Lansford (2015) ''Political Handbook of the World 2015'', CQ Press</ref> The party nominated six candidates, winning three of the 52 seats in Parliament; Tony Nari in Pentecost, Hosea Nevu in Santo and Iauko in Tanna.<ref>[http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/v/vanuatu/vanuatu2012.txt Legislative elections of 30 October 2012] Psephos</ref> Iauko died in December 2012, but the subsequent by-election was won by his son Pascal Iauko.<ref name=TL/> However, he lost his seat in parliament in 2015 after being convicted of bribery.<ref>[http://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-the-10th-legislature Members of the 10th Legislature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223150932/http://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-the-10th-legislature |date=2015-02-23 }} Parliament of Vanuatu</ref>

In October 2013, the Iauko Group, under the leadership of Tony Nari, supported the Vanua'aku Pati, and joined Prime Minister Carcasses' parliamentary majority.<ref>[http://www.dailypost.vu/content/iauko-group-and-vp-unite "IAUKO GROUP AND VP UNITE"], ''Vanuatu Daily Post'', 22 October 2013</ref>

=== Rural Development Party === {{Main| Rural Development Party (Vanuatu)}}

On 11 December 2014, two years after the death of founder Harry Iauko, the Iauko Group was also known as the Rural Development Party (RDP). MPs in 2015 that associated with RDP included: Tony Ngari (party leader), Hosea Nevu, Thomas Laken. John Amos, Jonas James, and Pascal Iauko. MPs Samsen Samson and Havo Moli have also declared affiliations with RDP.<ref name="jonas 2015">{{Cite news | last=Cullwick |first=Jonas |title=RDP performs custom to PM Kilman |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/rdp-performs-custom-to-pm-kilman/article_3fd0df43-00bd-5183-a016-ae0fd34bc681.html |access-date=2022-10-18 |work=Vanuatu Daily Post | date=21 August 2015 }}</ref> The party supported the governments of Sato Kilman<ref name="jonas 2015"/>

In the 2016 elections the party fielded eight candidates,<ref>[https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/final-candidate-list-2016-general-election/ Final candidate list for the 2016 General Election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303075153/https://vanuatudaily.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/final-candidate-list-2016-general-election/ |date=2016-03-03 }} Vanuatu Daily, 11 January 2016</ref> winning four seats; Nevu was re-elected in Santo, Marc Ati was elected in Luganville, Jay Ngwele in Ambae and Kalo Pakoa Songi Lano in Tongoa.<ref>[http://dailypost.vu/news/unofficial-results/article_50d29d01-91d4-500d-888b-c864fee0273c.html Unofficial results] Vanuatu Daily Post, 25 January 2016</ref>

In 2017, RDP members signed a solidarity pact with the Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) in front of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai, reaffirming support for the coalition government. Members at that time included MP Jay Ngwele, Tom Nouam and Kalo Pakoa.<ref name="jonas 2017">{{Cite news |last=Cullwick |first=Jonas |title=Rural Development Party MPs join government |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/rural-development-party-mps-join-government/article_1c427134-6ac8-5ab8-b329-ebeb61e30f11.html |access-date=2022-10-18 |date=12 April 2017 | work=Vanuatu Daily Post |language=en}}</ref> They also supported the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) in 2018.<ref name="dp 2018">{{Cite news |date=12 December 2018 |title=RDP joins VP |work=Vanuatu Daily Post |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/rdp-joins-vp/article_8cbda0f8-e736-53c7-8143-abc0faae091c.html}}</ref>

According to the World Factbook IG and RDP were listed as the same party IG from 2016 to 2019.<ref name="cia factbook 2016">{{Cite web |date=6 July 2017 |title=Vanuatu Government Profile 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706111155/https://www.indexmundi.com/vanuatu/government_profile.html |archive-date=6 July 2017 |access-date=18 October 2022 |via=Index Mundi | url= https://www.indexmundi.com/vanuatu/government_profile.html }}</ref><ref name="cia factbooks">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook Archives |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206061728/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=CIA World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency}}</ref>

=== Split from RDP === In 2020, the RDP and IG ran their own candidates for the 2020 Vanuatuan general election.

In 18 October 2022, following the 2022 Vanuatuan general election, which was a snap election, it was reported that RDP, IG, VP, and National United Party (NUP) were not included in the signing of the pact for the new government formation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 October 2022 |title=VP, RDP, NUP and IG excluded from new Gov't formation |work=Vanuatu Daily Post |url=https://www.dailypost.vu/news/vp-rdp-nup-and-ig-excluded-from-new-gov-t-formation/article_df9b2a12-ae85-5df3-83c3-99e235d8f64c.html}}</ref>

== Election results == ===Parliament=== {|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center !Election !Leader !Votes !% !Seats !+/– !Status |- !2012 |rowspan=3 |Harry Iauko |4,425 |3.68 (#8) |{{Composition bar|3|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} |New |{{no2|Opposition}} |- !2016 |4,979 |4.40 (#6) |{{Composition bar|4|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |{{no2|Opposition}} |- !2020 |2,847 |1.98 (#12) |{{Composition bar|2|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} |{{decrease}} 2 |{{yes2|Coalition}} |- !2022 |rowspan=2 |Marc Ati |8,093 |6.12 (#7) |{{Composition bar|3|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} |{{increase}} 1 |{{no2|Opposition}} |- !2025 |9,383 |6.42 (#6) |{{Composition bar|6|52|hex={{party color|Iauko Group}}}} |{{increase}} 3 |{{yes2|Coalition}} |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Vanuatuan political parties}}

Category:Political parties in Vanuatu Category:Political parties established in 2012 Category:2012 establishments in Vanuatu

{{Vanuatu-stub}} {{Oceania-party-stub}}