Parliament of Nauru

Last updated

Parliament of Nauru
Coat of arms of Nauru.svg
Type
Type
History
Founded31 January 1968;56 years ago (1968-01-31)
Leadership
Marcus Stephen, Non-partisan
since 27 August 2019
Deputy Speaker
Lionel Aingimea, Non-partisan
since 28 September 2022
Structure
Seats19
Nauru Parliament 2019.svg
Political groups
Government
  Nauru First (5)
  Non-partisan (9)
Opposition
  Non-partisan (5)
Elections
Dowdall system
Last election
24 September 2022
Next election
2025
Meeting place
Nauru Parliament.jpg
Parliament Building, Yaren
Nauru Parliament chamber.jpg
Website
Official website
Footnotes
* all candidates for Parliament officially stand as independents.

The Parliament of Nauru has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in multi-seat constituencies. The President of Nauru is elected by the members of the Parliament. [1] The number of seats was increased to 19 following elections in 2013. [2]

Contents

The members of the Parliament of Nauru are elected by a positional voting system. [1]

History

The Parliament of Nauru came into existence with the country's independence on 31 January 1968. The island was previously a United Nations Trust Territory administered by Australia. The Australian government's Nauru Act 1965 created the Legislative Council for the Territory of Nauru, consisting of 15 members – nine elected members, one ex officio member (the Administrator of Nauru), and five "official members" nominated by the Administrator. [3]

On 22 March 2010, Radio New Zealand International reported that President Marcus Stephen had dissolved Parliament in readiness for elections on 24 April 2010. The election saw all 18 MPs returned, [4] but by this stage, nine of them had formed the Opposition, resulting in a deadlocked Parliament. Another election was held in June 2010, as a result of the continuing deadlock. After weeks of uncertainty, the deadlock was resolved when the Opposition agreed to have one of its own MPs, Ludwig Scotty, elected as Speaker. President Stephen then suggested that the number of MPs should be expanded to 19, to prevent future deadlocks. [5] In late 2012, Parliament, under the leadership of President Dabwido, acted on this suggestion and passed a law increasing the number of seats to 19 after election in 2013, it is expected to prevent future deadlocks like the one in 2010. [2]

Current MPs

ConstituencyMemberFactionPoints#1 Votes
Aiwo Rennier Gadabu Government 399.956
248 / 798
Delvin Thoma 350.155
183 / 798
Anabar Maverick Eoe Government 382.747
245 / 658
Pyon Deiye Government 439.653
300 / 658
Anetan Timothy Ika Opposition667.667
483 / 898
Marcus Stephen Speaker531.017
298 / 898
Boe Martin Hunt Government 576.683
318 / 1,042
Asterio Appi Government 585.150
396 / 1,042
Buada Shadlog Bernicke Opposition233.197
166 / 509
Bingham Agir Government 263.833
205 / 509
Meneng Lionel Aingimea Government 643.612
442 / 1,339
Khyde Menke Government 530.630
232 / 1,339
Jesse Jeremiah 450.515
223 / 1,339
Ubenide David Adeang Opposition554.938
254 / 1,566
Russ Kun Government 592.124
275 / 1,566
Reagan Aliklik Government 409.732
249 / 1,566
Wawani Dowiyogo Government 515.666
231 / 854
Yaren Charmaine Scotty Opposition449.867
249 / 854
Isabella Dageago Government 365.829
257 / 854

Speaker

The Speaker is the presiding officer of Parliament. The Speaker is an MP elected by the MPs. The Speaker has no vote in no-confidence votes and presidential elections.

Following the April 2008 election, Riddell Akua was appointed Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru. He replaced David Adeang. [6]

Two weeks after the April 2010 election, Godfrey Thoma was elected Speaker. [5] Due to the political deadlock fresh elections were held in June, after which Parliament continued to be deadlocked until the election of Ludwig Scotty to the chair in November 2010. Scotty resigned at the end of the 20th Parliament in March 2013. Godfrey Thoma was elected to replace him. Following the 2013 election, Scotty was re-elected to the speaker's post.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludwig Scotty</span> Nauruan politician

Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a Nauruan politician who twice served as President of Nauru and was Speaker of Parliament five times between 2000 and 2016. He served as president from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003 and again from 22 June 2004 until his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007. He was elected as president in 2003, again from November 2010 to April 2013, and from June 2013 to June 2016.

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References

  1. 1 2 "About Parliament", Parliament of Nauru Archived 20 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 "Nauru country brief" Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine , Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 10 November 2012
  3. "Nauru Act 1965". Federal Register of Legislation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  4. "Nauru election returns previous parliament unchanged". Radio New Zealand International . 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Political standoff ends with speaker's election in Nauru", ABC Radio Australia, 13 May 2010 Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Nauru president moves to ensure political stability" Archived 22 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine , ABC Radio Australia, 1 May 2008

Sources

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-06-11/baron-waqa-named-as-new-nauru-president/1144022
http://www.naurugov.nr/government-information-office/media-release/honbaron-waqa-elected-president.aspx%5B%5D

0°32′50″S166°55′00″E / 0.54722°S 166.91667°E / -0.54722; 166.91667