Thomas Laken, born 3 March 1972,
, Parliament of Vanuatu is a

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

an politician. Self-employed in the shipping service, he later worked as a primary school teacher. He was first elected to the

Parliament of Vanuatu The Parliament of Vanuatu ( bi, Palamen blong Vanuatu; french: Parlement du Vanuatu) is the unicameral legislative body of the Republic of Vanuatu. It was established by chapter 4 of the 1980 Constitution, upon Vanuatu's independence from Franc ...

as Independent MP for Tanna, in the 2012 general election. Prime Minister

Sato Kilman Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu (born 30 December 1957) is a Vanuatuan politician. He was Prime Minister of Vanuatu on four occasions, most recently from June 2015 to February 2016. Kilman was previously Prime Minister from December 2010 to April 20 ...

appointed him as Minister of Justice and Social Welfare. In February 2013, Laken joined the

Green Confederation The Green Confederation ( bi, Vanuatu Grin Konfederesen, french: Confédération des Verts Vanuatu; sometimes seen as the Greens Confederation or Vanuatu Green Confederation) is a green political party in Vanuatu. At the legislative election of ...

. On 20 March, Thomas Laken and Minister for Ni-Vanuatu Business

Marcellino Pipite Marcellino Pipite is a Vanuatuan politician and former school administration, who was first elected to Parliament in 2004. He was the foreign minister of Vanuatu from November 2004 until December 2004, in the government of Serge Vohor. He was p ...

crossed the floor to join the Opposition, along with six government backbenchers. Lacking a majority with which to govern, Kilman resigned the following day, before a motion of no confidence could be brought against him. New Prime Minister

Moana Carcasses Kalosil Moana Carcasses Kalosil (born 27 January 1963) is a Vanuatuan politician. He was Prime Minister of Vanuatu from March 2013 to May 2014. He was the first naturalized citizen of Vanuatu to become the country's prime minister. Carcasses was ousted ...

(of the Green Confederation, the country's first Green Prime Minister) appointed him as Minister for Planning and Climate Change Adaptation. He lost office when Carcasses' government was ousted in a motion of no confidence on 15 May 2014, then resumed office when the new government of

Joe Natuman Joe Natuman (born 24 November 1952) is a Vanuatuan politician of the Vanua'aku Pati and former Prime Minister of Vanuatu. He is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific, and was also an exchange student at the University of Papua New Gu ...

was itself ousted in the same manner on 11 June 2015, and

became Prime Minister."Vanuatu announces new cabinet after new prime minister Sato Kilman is elected"
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 June 2015

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laken, Thomas 1972 births Members of the Parliament of Vanuatu Green Confederation politicians Government ministers of Vanuatu Living people