2004 Nauruan parliamentary election

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Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 23 October 2004. [1] Non-partisan followers of Ludwig Scotty won a majority, and he was elected president by the parliament (the Nauruan president is effectively a prime minister as he is also an MP, as is the case in South Africa and Botswana).

Contents

Background

In September 2004, health minister and MP Kieren Keke was suspended by Speaker Russell Kun, an opposition MP, due to having dual Nauruan and Australian citizenship. [2] [3] The Chief Justice of Nauru ruled that Keke could remain an MP, but Speaker did not allow Keke to return to his parliamentary seat until the undoing of his suspension was voted on by parliament. [1] Gridlock then resulted in parliament failing to pass a new budget by the September deadline. [1] On 30 September, President Ludwig Scotty declared a state of emergency and dissolved parliament. [4] [5] On 1 October, the government announced the resultant snap election would be held on 23 October. [3] Opposition MPs accused the use of emergency powers and dissolution of parliament by the president of being unconstitutional. [6] By 12 October, President Scotty's actions were upheld by the chief justice. [7]

There were 76 candidates in the snap election. All sitting MPs sought re-election. [1]

Results

PartySeats
Supporters of Ludwig Scotty 11
Other candidates7
Total18
Source: Psephos

By constituency

ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotes
Aiwo Godfrey Thoma 233.246Elected
René Harris 174.951Elected
Amos Randall Cook158.099
Dantes Tsitsi 150.044
Elkoga Gadabu136.150
Allan Ririanang Thoma133.796
Reagan Conrad Moses126.055
Preston Thoma124.283
Invalid/blank votes12
Total votes cast467
Anabar Ludwig Scotty 304.617Elected
Riddel Akua 282.217Elected
James Deireragea169.517
Godfrey Itine Waidabu165.333
Tyrone Vilmos Deiye144.633
Invalid/blank votes4
Total votes cast471
Anetan Marcus Stephen 226.239Elected
Vassal Gadoengin 200.700Elected
Remy Namaduk 181.568
Landon Deireragea 170.257
Cyril Buraman 153.923
Paul Bucky Ika135.814
Rimone Tom134.314
Aloysius Gonzaga Namaduk101.756
Invalid/blank votes9
Total votes cast489
Boe Mathew Batsiua 223.206Elected
Baron Waqa 211.822Elected
Kinza Clodumar 173.887
Bernard Teia Grundler131.259
Tazio Gideon119.120
Detonga August Deiye118.571
Chanda Pasulia Deiranauw107.792
Clinton Benjamin 102.216
Isaac Eobwaoin Aremwa99.308
Invalid/blank votes11
Total votes cast466
Buada Roland Kun 145.324Elected
Terangi Adam 131.967Elected
Thomas Star123.243
Vinson Detenamo 122.610
John Palik Agir109.110
Nelson De Burma Tamakin104.793
Manfred Rabaima Depaune84.890
Invalid/blank votes2
Total votes cast319
Meneng Dogabe Jeremiah 279.499Elected
Sprent Dabwido 239.733Elected
Lionel Aingimea 205.362
Doneke Kepae198.473
Nimrod Botelanga 190.719
Rykers Solomon 181.956
Simpson Arthur Simon151.399
Porthos Bwaidongo Bop147.613
Roxen Davey Agadio137.590
Lockley Denuga133.408
Invalid/blank votes19
Total votes cast656
Ubenide David Adeang 343.183Elected
Fabian Ribauw 308.237Elected
Freddie Pitcher 254.332Elected
Valdon Dowiyogo 231.298Elected
Aloysius Amwano 213.955
Alf Diranga Itsimaera212.395
Ellington Dowabobo174.727
Russell Kun 166.072
Francis Detsibanga Amram159.408
Celestine Eoaeo156.336
Derog Gioura 154.428
Anthony Roteb Garabwan149.513
Joseph Hiram 147.317
Francis Maaki Deireragea144.278
Dempsey Keppa141.770
Renos Renige Agege137.293
Arde Ricky Bam135.200
Invalid/blank votes41
Total votes cast980
Yaren Kieren Keke 167.444Elected
Dominic Tabuna 126.904Elected
Douglas Dogura Audoa111.515
Pres Nimes Ekwona 102.409
Leo Keke 93.985
Nodel Marcus Neneiya91.999
John Daigan Akubor78.211
Roger Raigide Iwugia68.071
Johnny Taumea Agadio61.903
Invalid/blank votes10
Total votes cast329
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 23 October 2004

Aftermath

The election was a victory for the government. All nine government MPs were re-elected. Seven of nine opposition MPs were voted out. Speaker Kun was among those voted out. [8]

Government MP Vassal Gadoengin was elected by parliament as speaker. Scotty was re-elected president on 26 October. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Nauru - Elections held in 2004". Inter-Parliamentary Union . Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  2. "Votes & Proceedings of the Fifteenth Parliament No. 52" (PDF). Republic of Nauru. 14 September 2004. p. 6. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Nauru President takes over with decree of emergency rule". The Sydney Morning Herald . ProQuest. 2 October 2004. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  4. Scotty, Ludwig (30 September 2004). "DISSOLUTION OF FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (73): 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2019.
  5. "President of Nauru declares emergency". The Desert Sun . 1 October 2004. p. 20. Retrieved 20 July 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Political crisis leads to elections in Nauru". Honolulu Star-Bulletin . 23 October 2004. p. 10. Retrieved 20 July 2025 via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Nauru to go to polls". The Advertiser . ProQuest. 12 October 2004. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  8. "Nauru reformist victory". The Australian . ProQuest. 25 October 2004. p. 13. Retrieved 20 July 2025.