Union of Moderate Parties

The Union of Moderate Parties (Union des Partis Moderés) is a conservative francophone political party in Vanuatu. At the last legislative elections, 6 July 2004, the party won 9 out of 52 seats. The party is currently the largest opposition party in Vanuatu. It is a conservative party and is the most popular political party among French speakers in Vanuatu. The party's influence grew after internal difficulties caused the Vanua'aku Pati government to fall in 1991. Former prime ministers Maxime Carlot Korman was a previous member but no longer at present, and Serge Vohor is a member of the party. Since Korman had departed, he formed his own political party called Vanuatu Republican Party. Serge Vohor who hails from the Island Of Santo remains the president of UMP. It won 12 seats in the 1998 elections, 15 seats in the 2002 elections and 9 seats in the 2004 elections. Despite the obvious setback, Vohor was able to form a coalition government in August 2004, but lost a confidence vote four months later.