In December 2004, Vohor was ousted after only a few months in office in a no confidence vote for unilaterally establishing relations with Taiwan (Republic of China), and Lin̄i was elected Prime Minister by the Parliament.

[3] The opposition, led by former prime minister Serge Vohor, had accused the Lin̄i government of weaknesses from a controversial proposal to monopolize kava exports.

[3] Lin̄i and Vanuatu's council of ministers declared a state of emergency for the capital city of Port Vila in March 2007 following tribal clashes between people from the islands of Tanna and Ambrym.

[4] Lin̄i failed to gain a second term as prime minister after his National United Party suffered losses in Parliament during the general election held on 2 September 2008,[2] although he was re-elected to his own parliamentary seat.

However, in Natapei second major cabinet reshuffle, which took place in November 2009, Lin̄i was removed as Deputy Prime Minister and replaced by Sato Kilman.

[10] Three weeks later, however, on 13 May, Vohor's election and premiership were voided by the Court of Appeal, and the Kilman government was restored, complete with Ham Lin̄i as Deputy Prime Minister.

[11] This lasted for only a month; on 16 June, the Kilman premiership was voided on constitutional grounds by the Supreme Court's Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek, and Lin̄i lost office once more.