2022 Nauruan parliamentary election

Last updated

2022 Nauruan parliamentary election
Flag of Nauru.svg
  2019 24 September 2022 2025  

President 00000 before election

Lionel Aingimea

Elected
President

Russ Kun

Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 24 September 2022 to elect all 19 members of parliament. [1] All candidates were elected on a non-partisan basis. Following the election, Russ Kun, a member of parliament for Ubenide, was elected president by parliament.

Contents

Background

In the 2019 elections, nearly half of the Parliament members lost their seats, including incumbent President Baron Waqa. [2] Justice minister David Adeang, Waqa's deputy, retained his seat. [3] Adeang was a candidate in the following presidential election; he lost to Lionel Aingimea, who had been an assistant minister. [4]

The Aingimea government implemented some electoral changes. Potential candidates in regularly scheduled general elections were now required to register their intention 270 days before the end of the parliamentary term. [5] These declared candidates would then file nominations during the nomination period. [6] To address public concerns about granting citizenship to foreigners, the government held a constitutional referendum in 2021 which disqualified naturalised citizens and their descendants from running for Parliament. [7]

Aingimea also pushed for strong stances in Pacific affairs. Nauru supported the Micronesia boycott of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2021, which aimed for a Micronesian secretary-general; [8] it also offered to temporarily host a Micronesia secretariat. [9] When University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia was deported from Fiji after investigating university finances, Nauru hosted Ahluwalia at its campus for the term. [10] [11] Aingimea also supported the USP Council's decision to renew Ahluwalia's contract, and commissioned the auditing firm BDO to further pursue the investigation. [12]

Electoral system

The 19 members of Parliament are elected from eight multi-member constituencies using the Dowdall system, a version of ranked voting; voters rank candidates, with the votes counted as a fraction of one divided by the ranking number (e.g. a candidate ranked second will be scored as 12); the candidates with the highest total are elected. [13] There are no political parties, so all candidates run as independents. Informal groups do form in Parliament, but membership is fluid. [14]

Parliament is elected for a three-year term, but can be dissolved earlier. The government, which comprises the President and the Cabinet, must retain the support of a majority in Parliament. [15]

All citizens aged 20 and older are permitted to cast their ballot; once an individual reaches voting age, they are automatically added to the electoral roll. Voting is compulsory in Nauru; individuals who fail to vote without sufficient reasoning are required to pay a fine. Nauruans who provide proof of illness, are in hospital or are not present in the country on election day are excused. However, Nauruans overseas on the polling day have the option to engage in proxy voting, where an individual assigns someone in Nauru to vote on their behalf. The electoral commission provides a mobile voting service for voters hospitalised or unable to go to polling stations due to incapacity, involving polling staff travelling to these individuals to ensure they can cast their ballot. [16]

Conduct

On 29 August, Speaker of Parliament Marcus Stephen issued a writ of election for 24 September. 8,054 eligible voters registered for this election. The electoral roll was opened between 1 and 3 September for verification. [17] Nominations were accepted between 4 and 10 September. [18] 77 candidates were nominated to contest the election. [19] The Pacific Islands Forum sent an election monitoring team led by Feue Tipu, the High Commissioner of Tuvalu to New Zealand. [20]

Early voting commenced on 19 September. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the electoral commission encouraged polling stations to enforce rigorous hygiene measures. On election day, 24 September, the polling concluded at 6 pm local time. [21]

Results

The vote count began after the close of polls, and was completed on Monday, 26 September. The speaker and the twelve government members retained their seats. Out of the six opposition members, two were unseated: Milton Dube (Aiwo) and Tawaki Kam (Meneng). [19] [22]

Former presidents Ludwig Scotty and Baron Waqa ran for election, but did not enter Parliament. [23]

Aiwo

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
12345678910
Rennier Gadabu 24817866381223173040146399.956Re-elected
Delvin Thoma 1831667664532953588729350.155Elected
Milton Dube 1427467626035567382147275.603Unseated
Aaron Cook 8435606162899114411557213.461
Vania Scotty6051537689141118768846204.202
Clarissa Jeremiah38681137991115118865832204.035
Shane Detenamo15571511221168391715735193.075
Ken Blake9558911717511283765329179.229
Cory Caleb3936942488376101121162159.560
Evi Agir1621541379288958397115158.041
Invalid/blank votes17
Total815
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Anabar

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
123456789
Pyon Deiye 300211385014135225439.653Re-elected
Maverick Eoe 24519248221821161482382.747Re-elected
Ludwig Scotty 57433948535175149143167.828
Marita Agigo1758688552641979126153.390
Bureiy Deireragea15367268173135585546151.372
Junior Olsson195310157524061102173151.170
Patrick Scotty4445417610498616354147.723
Dawson Agege19169649662889277139.994
Narmi Doguape012698896174977052127.585
Invalid/blank votes17
Total675
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Anetan

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
123456
Timothy Ika 48332430222019667.667Re-elected
Marcus Stephen 29834675434888531.017Re-elected
Raynor Tom398918812539859266.850
Clifford Simon114626036515165252.950
Cyril Buraman 6268627974553243.383
Begg Adire525283264207114238.233
Invalid/blank votes11
Total909
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Boe

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
123456
Asterio Appi 3961759251107221585.150Re-elected
Martin Hunt 3183258513512851576.683Re-elected
Wanganeen Emiu207212122119191191453.450
Baron Waqa 10366114106260393318.000
Samvic Namaduk8154333243184120313.550
Dempsey Detenamo1011029638817266306.067
Invalid/blank votes4
Total1046
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Buada

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
123456789
Bingham Agir 2054713147111126175263.833Re-elected
Shadlog Bernicke 16638312114272374115233.197Re-elected
Sean Halstead341086856554959728162.151
Jaxon Olsson3460537371121483613147.085
Sheeva Peo Cook386062615635887633146.688
Rowan Detenamo1135110817569505325128.462
Aie Ribauw1150505111478815915121.830
Elchen Morgan57958455950626784121.782
Nanero Thoma532641075869874641114.917
Invalid/blank votes2
Total511
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Meneng

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
1234567891011
Lionel Aingimea 44217498574742438080129147643.612Re-elected
Khyde Menke 223349117775238394464136191530.630Re-elected
Jesse Jeremiah 2231341279588657775160113182450.515Elected
Tawaki Kam 146128160109987715394114134126394.145Unseated
Vodrick Detsiogo 63921381341311441712191058260315.825
Robert Timothy599911113215513213613213419752306.745
Wiram Wiram8381114899410392136171140236304.314
Ronay Dick1679218192175169156116997841298.646
Jim Brechtefeld686184126103198145168151129106292.628
Samson Rock37810012122916717114613110192254.914
Nickos Simon46472207167204156129130100106292.628
Invalid/blank votes36
Total1375
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Ubenide

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
123456789101112131415161718
Russ Kun 275263235129127464831473925283424331044632592.124Re-elected
David Adeang 25427016814596594227382429253132486259157554.938Re-elected
Wawani Dowiyogo 23128613510453453329304022302834458924686515.666Re-elected
Reagan Aliklik 249668763313317343643464251393873148470409.732Re-elected
Vyko Adeang1486381144765751678910798916996731397047352.390
Ranin Akua 1081707680855577776380545872739611814776347.464
Gregor Garoa681271531461231431149480655560836884593914343.897
George Gioura536112114314916913810488795464599169395431301.159
Daniel Itsamaera51481246964656692124104123110138125111585638258.646
Mark Menke21395310996106124125126112106818914378676130228.912
Livingstone Hiram22246161819510510313213911217612910070764733213.987
Ceila Giouba112065901171201221509210983788552687483147212.373
Aidan Atto22294539631151101431141381641509710291605133209.879
Starsky Dagagio111225521641311051081291151241049885735568107199.098
Fabain Ribauw13223454909912510510687121102961131461157365194.575
Wavman Harris182427484280117103951191591111371541331096030190.896
Maximillian Kun5234456545993797570931291671351721498479176.097
Temakau Tannang619323454897995102969812710310013812917491171.506
Invalid/blank votes64
Total1630
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Yaren

CandidatePreference votesTotalNotes
12345678
Charmaine Scotty 249261684841784960449.867Re-elected
Isabella Dageago 257492930374187324365.829Re-elected
Caruso Amwano1566759575661210188298.283
Hunter Itaia110113107607615016177289.992
John Julius181282271431291026740250.788
Charisma Capelle347213514415715511839229.965
Rumple Cain20711102211621238067220.120
Mariae Cain10931191511961448259216.206
Invalid/blank votes5
Total859
Source: Electoral Commission of Nauru

Presidential election

Following the elections, the newly elected MPs elected the president, who was required by the constitution be a member of parliament. [24] The first session of the 24th parliament was held on 28 September. Russ Kun, a representative for the Ubenide constituency, was the only candidate for president. Former president Marcus Stephen won re-election as speaker of parliament, whilst outgoing president Lionel Aingimea was elected deputy speaker. [25]

Kun and his thirteen-member cabinet were sworn in a ceremony on 29 September. There were six other ministers besides Kun himself, and seven deputy ministers (which included the two new members). Both heads of resident missions, from Australia and Taiwan, were in attendance. [26] The visiting New Zealand high commissioner met with Kun to offer congratulations, [27] and the non-resident European Union ambassador to the Pacific congratulated him on Twitter. [28]

2023 Presidential election

2023 Nauruan presidential election
Flag of Nauru.svg
30 October 2023
  David Adeang (cropped).jpg Delvin Thoma (crop1).jpg
Nominee David Adeang Delvin Thoma
Party Independent Independent
Electoral vote108
Percentage55.56%44.44%

President before election

Russ Kun
Independent

Elected President

David Adeang
Independent

On 25 October 2023 parliament passed a vote of no confidence against Kun. The same day, parliament unsuccessfully attempted to elect a new president. The two nominees were opposition MP David Adeang and government MP Rennier Gadabu. After two rounds of ballots, the vote was ultimately 9–9 on both occasions. Speaker Marcus Stephen then called for a new presidential vote to be held on 30 October. [29] On 30 October, MP Bingham Agir nominated MP Delvin Thoma for president. After the first secret ballot, MP Adeang and Thoma were tied at nine votes. In the second vote, Thoma received only eight votes to Adeang's ten, resulting in the election of Adeang as president. [30] [31]

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