Nauruan parliamentary election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru
on April 26, 2008, following the dissolving of Parliament by President Marcus Stephen
on April 18. The decision came after what Stephen referred to as "months of political deadlock". Of the parliament's eighteen members, nine supported the Stephen government and nine were in opposition.
. On March 22, Adeang had called a Parliamentary session, allegedly without informing government ministers, who therefore did not attend. Opposition MPs, Adeang included, constituted a majority of legislators present, and passed a ruling outlawing dual citizenship
for Members of Parliament. The ruling, if applied, would have affected senior Cabinet ministers Dr. Kieren Keke
and Frederick Pitcher
. Had they been compelled to resign from Parliament, the Opposition would have controlled a majority of seats in Parliament. The law was overturned as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and Adeang subsequently sought to suspend all pro-government MPs from Parliament, citing their allegedly "unruly behaviour". A week later, Stephen dissolved Parliament.
Two observers from the Pacific Islands Forum
were present to monitor the election, at the request of the Nauruan government.
There were 65 candidates for the 18 seats, among whom were former Presidents Ludwig Scotty
and René Harris
.
, Mathew Batsiua
, Roland Kun
, Frederick Pitcher
, Sprent Dabwido
, former Speaker Riddell Akua, Dominic Tabuna
and Rykers Solomon
) were reelected, while three opposition MPs (former President René Harris
, Cyril Buraman
and Fabian Ribauw
) lost their seats; the government claims it has thus won the election. Indeed, all three newly elected MPs joined the government and thereby ended the legislative deadlock. The new parliament was expected to hold its first session on 29 April 2008.
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
on April 26, 2008, following the dissolving of Parliament by President Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen was President of the Republic of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. In addition to the presidency, he held the offices of Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, Minister for Police, Prisons, & Emergency Services, and Minister for Public...
on April 18. The decision came after what Stephen referred to as "months of political deadlock". Of the parliament's eighteen members, nine supported the Stephen government and nine were in opposition.
Events leading to election
The deadlock had been exacerbated by a crisis between the President and the Speaker of Parliament, Opposition member David AdeangDavid Adeang
David Waiau Adeang is a Nauruan politician, and a former Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru, and a former Foreign Minister of Nauru. He is a founding member of the Naoero Amo , currently the only successful political party on the island.-Background and Early career:David Adeang's father is Kennan...
. On March 22, Adeang had called a Parliamentary session, allegedly without informing government ministers, who therefore did not attend. Opposition MPs, Adeang included, constituted a majority of legislators present, and passed a ruling outlawing dual citizenship
Nauruan nationality law
Nationality and citizenship in the Republic of Nauru are currently defined and regulated by the Constitution of Nauru and the Nauruan Community Ordinance 1956-1962. Dual citizenship is permitted.-Obtaining citizenship:...
for Members of Parliament. The ruling, if applied, would have affected senior Cabinet ministers Dr. Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
and Frederick Pitcher
Frederick Pitcher
Frederick William "Freddie" Pitcher is a Nauruan political figure. In December 2007, Pitcher was appointed Finance Minister of Nauru, to serve in the Administration of President Marcus Stephen....
. Had they been compelled to resign from Parliament, the Opposition would have controlled a majority of seats in Parliament. The law was overturned as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and Adeang subsequently sought to suspend all pro-government MPs from Parliament, citing their allegedly "unruly behaviour". A week later, Stephen dissolved Parliament.
Two observers from the Pacific Islands Forum
Pacific Islands Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum...
were present to monitor the election, at the request of the Nauruan government.
There were 65 candidates for the 18 seats, among whom were former Presidents Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a two-time former President of the Republic of Nauru. He served as President from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003, then from 22 June 2004 to his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007....
and René Harris
René Harris
René Reynaldo Harris was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.-Background and early career:...
.
Results
All nine supporters of Stephen (Stephen himself, Kieren KekeKieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
, Mathew Batsiua
Mathew Batsiua
Mathew Jansen Batsiua is a Nauruan politician. Batsiua, a former health minister, was named Foreign Minister of Nauru on November 10, 2011, replacing Kieren Keke.-Parliamentary role:...
, Roland Kun
Roland Kun
Roland Tullen Kun is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Nauru.-Political roles:Kun was elected in 2004 to serve as a Member of the Parliament of Nauru and has also served as Minister of Justice...
, Frederick Pitcher
Frederick Pitcher
Frederick William "Freddie" Pitcher is a Nauruan political figure. In December 2007, Pitcher was appointed Finance Minister of Nauru, to serve in the Administration of President Marcus Stephen....
, Sprent Dabwido
Sprent Dabwido
Sprent Jared Dabwido is a Nauruan politician. He became the President of Nauru on 15 November 2011.-Background:Dabwido is a close relative of former parliamentarian Audi Dabwido, who served in the first parliament of Nauru in 1968.-Parliamentary role:Dabwido was elected to parliament in the 2004...
, former Speaker Riddell Akua, Dominic Tabuna
Dominic Tabuna
-Earlier political career:Tabuna was elected to parliament in the 2004 general elections, gaining the seat of Pres Ekwona.He has been subsequently re-elected in 2007 and 2008.-Deputy Speaker of Parliament:...
and Rykers Solomon
Rykers Solomon
Rykers Solomon is a Nauruan politician.-Parliamentary role:Solomon has been elected to parliament in the 2007 general elections, gaining the seat of Dogabe Jeremiah...
) were reelected, while three opposition MPs (former President René Harris
René Harris
René Reynaldo Harris was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.-Background and early career:...
, Cyril Buraman
Cyril Buraman
Cyril Buraman is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Nauru.-Background:Buraman stood for, and was duly elected to, the Parliament of Nauru, where the party system is not fully developed, and in 2007 was seen as an opponent of the incoming Administration of President Marcus...
and Fabian Ribauw
Fabian Ribauw
Fabian Dominic Ribauw is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Nauru.-Background and political role:Ribauw studied in Australia and earned a BA in Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne....
) lost their seats; the government claims it has thus won the election. Indeed, all three newly elected MPs joined the government and thereby ended the legislative deadlock. The new parliament was expected to hold its first session on 29 April 2008.