Bob Loughman elected as Vanuatu's new prime minister

Bob Loughman, leader of the Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party), was elected Vanuatu's new prime minister on Monday.

According to local media reports, Loughman, also an MP from Vanuatu's island of Tanna, defeated former foreign minister Ralph Regenvanu in a vote in parliament on Monday, by 31 votes to 21.

Loughman's party won seven of the 52 seats in the island nation's general elections held on March 19 this year.

Loughman, born in 1961, has been in the Vanuatu parliament since 2004. He had served as minister for education and minister for trade and tourism. He also served as deputy prime minister for a period of time.

The last general elections were held in Vanuatu in 2016.