Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat will meet President Nikenike Vurobaravu this week to raise concerns over the recent pardon of a convicted rapist.
The pardon was among those granted by the Head of State on the eve of Vanuatu’s 46th Independence Anniversary.
Napat says he will formally request that the pardon be revoked, while acknowledging that the power to grant pardons is a discretionary constitutional power vested in the President.
“While we respect the constitutional powers of the Head of State, the people deserve justice. I will be requesting that this pardon be revoked,” said the Prime Minister in a statement.
Napat says the seriousness of the case and the public concern it has generated make it necessary for him to raise the matter directly with the President.
The Government also plans to review the President’s pardoning powers and propose clear criteria to guide the exercise of the constitutional power in future cases.
This is not the first time Napat has raised concerns over presidential pardons.
In May 2025, President Vurobaravu rescinded an earlier order commuting the sentences of 70 inmates following public backlash and discussions with the Prime Minister.
The reversal came after it was determined that the President had been provided with incomplete information about the criminal backgrounds of several detainees.
Napat says the Government remains committed to upholding justice, protecting victims and maintaining public confidence in the country’s institutions.
