Politics of Kiribati takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic,whereby the Beretitenti,President of Kiribati,is both the head of state and head of government,and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government,Beretitenti,and his cabinet,all MPs. Legislative power is exercised by the House of Assembly. The Judiciary of Kiribati is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Constitution of Kiribati,promulgated at independence on 12 July 1979,establishes the Republic of Kiribati as a sovereign democratic republic and guarantees the fundamental rights of its citizens and residents.
The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania,including formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations. It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum (SPF),and changed its name in 1999 to "Pacific Islands Forum",so as to be more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries,including Australia. It is a United Nations General Assembly observer.
Anote Tong is an I-Kiribati politician for the Pillars of Truth party and environmental activist with half Chinese heritage,who served as the fourth president of Kiribati,from 2003 to 2016. He won the election in July 2003 with a slim plurality of votes cast (47.4%) against his older brother,Harry Tong (43.5%) and the private lawyer Banuera Berina (9.1%). The elections were contested by the opposition,due to allegations of electoral fraud but the High Court of Tarawa had confirmed that there was no fraud. He was re-elected on 17 October 2007 for a second term (64%). In 2012,Tong was reelected for a third term,although with a significantly smaller percentage than in the previous two elections.
The president of Kiribati is the head of state and head of government of Kiribati.
The Republic of Kiribati and the People's Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relations on June 25,1980,and resumed on September 27,2019. Between 2003 and 2019,The government of Kiribati recognized the Republic of China,and,in accordance with the "One China" policy,the People's Republic of China did not have diplomatic relations to the country.
Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati on October 21 and 28,2011. In the first round,exactly half of the 44 members of parliament were elected,with the remainder chosen in the proceeding run-off elections. 30 candidates were reelected,and four government ministers lost their seats. One seat had to go to a third round of elections due to two candidates tying in the second round. In the third round,Jacob Teem defended his seat against Rutio Bangao with just 27 votes difference. The parliament in Kiribati is known as Maneaba ni Maungatabu. The next parliamentary election was not scheduled until 2015.
Taomati T. Iuta was an I-Kiribati politician. He was Speaker of the House of Assembly of Kiribati for the Ninth Parliament (2011–2015). He was the vice president of Kiribati from 1991 to 1994.
The Tobwaan Kiribati Party is a political party in Kiribati.
Tessie Eria Lambourne is an I-Kiribati civil servant,diplomat and politician. She has been a member of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu (Parliament) since April 2020. She was formerly Kiribati's Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan) from June 2018 to September 2019 and Secretary to the Cabinet,the highest position in Kiribati's civil service,from August 2016 until June 2018.
Maere Tekanene is a former I-Kiribati politician,and part of the Pillars of Truth party,who was the Kiribati Member of Parliament for the South Tarawa constituency from 2011,and the Education Minister from 2012,until losing her seat at the 2015–16 parliamentary election.
Parliamentary elections were held in Kiribati in 2020 to elect members of the House of Assembly. The elections were originally planned on 7 April 2020,with a second round of voting to be held on 15 April 2020. However,in late March the Electoral Commission changed the voting date to 14 April 2020,with a second round on 21 April 2020.
Banuera Berina is a lawyer and a politician from Kiribati,representing Kuria in the House of Assembly. He was the opposition candidate in the 2020 Kiribati presidential election.
The Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party (BKM) is a political party in Kiribati from the merger of the Kiribati First Party and Boutokaan te Koaua in 2020.
Presidential elections were held in Kiribati on 22 June 2020. Incumbent President Taneti Maamau of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party was re-elected with 59% of the vote.
The Ministry of Information,Communications,Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) is a government ministry of Kiribati,headquartered in Betio,South Tarawa.
The Ministry of Environment,Lands and Agricultural Development is a government ministry of Kiribati,headquartered in Bikenibeu,South Tarawa.
Tekeeua Tarati is an I-Kiribati politician and entrepreneur,Minister for Information,Communications,Transport and Tourism development since July 2020.
Events from 2020 in Kiribati.
The 51st Pacific Islands Forum was a meeting of the heads of state and heads of government of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF),which was held in Suva,Fiji from 11 to 14 July 2022. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Fiji,Frank Banimarama.
