2008 Nauruan parliamentary election

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]

2008 Nauruan parliamentary election

April 26, 2008
All 18 seats of the Parliament of Nauru
Leader Marcus Stephen René Harris Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Leader's seat Anetan Constituency Aiwo Constituency (lost) Last election 3 seats 15 seats Seats won 12 6 Seat change +9 –9
President before election Marcus Stephen Nonpartisan President-designate Marcus Stephen Nonpartisan

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]

 Summary of the 26 April 2008 Nauru Parliament election results

	Votes	%	Seats
supporters of Marcus Stephen		.	12
Others		.	6
Total			18
Source: ABC Radio Australia, May 1, 2008.

See also

• Politics in Nauru

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. "Nauru government returns to power", Pacnews (Marianas Variety), April 30, 2008.
9. "Nauru government claims poll win", BBC News, April 27, 2008.
10. "Nauru political deadlock ends", Associated Press, April 28, 2008.
11. "Gov't wins increased majority in Nauru", AFP (The China Post), April 28, 2008.