2008 Nauruan parliamentary election

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2008 Nauruan parliamentary election
Flag of Nauru.svg
  2007 April 26, 2008 April 2010  

All 18 seats in the Parliament of Nauru
PartySeats
Supporters of Marcus Stephen 12
Other independents 6
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
President beforePresident-designate
Marcus Stephen
Independent
Marcus Stephen
Independent

Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on April 26, 2008, [1] 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. [2] [3]

Contents

Events leading to election

The deadlock had been exacerbated by a crisis between the President and the Speaker of Parliament, Opposition member David Adeang. 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, [4] and Adeang subsequently sought to suspend all pro-government MPs from Parliament, citing their allegedly "unruly behaviour". [5] 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. [6]

There were 65 candidates for the 18 seats, among whom were former Presidents Ludwig Scotty and René Harris. [7]

Results

All nine supporters of Stephen (Stephen himself, Kieren Keke, 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; [8] the government claims it has thus won the election. [9] Indeed, all three newly elected MPs joined the government and thereby ended the legislative deadlock. [10] The new parliament was expected to hold its first session on 29 April 2008. [11]

PartyVotes%Seats
Supporters of Marcus Stephen 12
Other candidates6
Total18
Total votes4,607
Registered voters/turnout5,23588.00
Source: ABC Radio Australia, IPU

By constituency

ConstituencyCandidateVotesNotes
Aiwo Dantes Tsitsi 225.83Re-elected
Godfrey Thoma 203.32Re-elected after previous defeat [8]
Aaron Cook 187.43
René Harris 181.70Unseated
Preston Thoma152.77
Elkoga Gadabu136.75
Invalid/blank votes4
Total Votes Cast448
Anabar Ludwig Scotty 240.43Re-elected
Riddell Akua 227.67Re-elected
Tyrone Deiye146.58
James Deireragea146.52
David Peter Gadaraoa 125.06
Espen Jubal Fritz105.12
Andre Adun104.53
Corey Menke100.96
Christopher Agiar Quadina87.48
Invalid/blank votes13
Total Votes Cast467
Anetan Marcus Stephen 325.57Re-elected
Landon Deireragea 236.35Elected
Cyril Buraman 228.27Unseated
Remy Namaduk 211.02
Fabian Ika181.57
Invalid/blank votes6
Total Votes Cast524
Boe Mathew Batsiua 266.88Re-elected
Baron Waqa 229.18Re-elected
Vollmer Mercury Appi178.00
Bernard Grundler168.37
Morgan Solomon136.33
Samuel Robinen Angabwiy118.83
Invalid/blank votes2
Total Votes Cast450
Buada Shadlog Bernicke 193.30Re-elected
Roland Kun 185.79Re-elected
Vinson Detenamo 175.41
Monte Depaune150.95
Alexander George Stephen135.82
Lionel Abungidage Fritz114.13
Yvette Duburiya112.86
Invalid/blank votes8
Total Votes Cast420
Meneng Rykers Solomon 320.23Re-elected
Sprent Dabwido 316.20Re-elected
Doneke Benedict Kepae225.19
Dogabe Jeremiah207.75
Nemo Levi Agadio187.62
Russell David Daoe168.15
Jeziel Jeremiah156.50
Darius Rock147.62
Joseph Laben Hiram 144.22
Davey Roxen Agadio137.62
Rick Daoe136.04
Invalid/blank votes25
Total Votes Cast736
Ubenide Freddie Pitcher 481.59Re-elected
David Adeang 406.76Re-elected
Valdon Dowiyogo 383.00Re-elected
Aloysius Amwano 308.47Re-elected after three previous defeats [8]
Ruston Marcus Kun287.68
Fabian Ribauw 260.03Unseated
Alf Itsimaera222.96
Renos Renige Agege190.52
Michael Grillo Dekarube183.29
Adonis Gioura183.09
Skipper Hiram176.89
Briar-Rose Alona173.74
Ceila Cecilia Giouba173.74
Michael Fury Roland169.59
Dempsey Keppa168.17
Invalid/blank votes48
Total Votes Cast1,184
Yaren Dominic Tabuna 227.83Re-elected
Kieren Keke 222.95Re-elected
Charmaine Scotty 166.90
John Daigon Julius110.82
Brian Joseph Amwano101.22
Johnny Taumea Agadio91.48
Invalid/blank votes2
Total Votes Cast378
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 26 April, 2008

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2010 Nauruan parliamentary election</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Nauruan parliamentary election</span>

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References

  1. "Nauru parliament dissolved before April 26 election", The China Post (Taiwan), April 19, 2008
  2. Phil Mercer, "Nauru president calls snap polls", BBC News, April 18, 2008
  3. "Nauru declares state of emergency and fresh elections", ABC Radio Australia, April 18, 2008
  4. "Nauru judge blocks citizenship law change", ABC Radio Australia, April 8, 2008
  5. "Nauru speaker suspends all government members". Radio New Zealand International . April 11, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  6. "Observers for Nauru election" Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine , Fiji Times, April 23, 2008
  7. "65 candidates to contest Nauru parliament seats". Radio New Zealand International . April 22, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 "PPAPD - Nauru Elections return Stephen-led Government". Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  9. "Nauru government claims poll win", BBC News, April 27, 2008.
  10. "Nauru political deadlock ends", Associated Press, April 28, 2008.[ dead link ]
  11. "Gov't wins increased majority in Nauru", AFP (The China Post), April 28, 2008.