Aloysius Amwano
Encyclopedia
Aloysius Arabao Iyomogo Edrick Amwano (also called Ali Amwano; b. 21 June 1955) is a Nauru
an politician.
.
.
's parliamentary majority, before switching over to the opposition in 2010. He was one of three non-Cabinet government MPs to switch to the opposition after benefiting from a trip to Singapore
organised and paid for by the Australian company Getax, which buys Nauruan phosphate. Getax had just sought, unsuccessfully, to propose a loan to the Stephen government, with contractual clauses enabling it (the company) to take over Nauru's phosphate industry in the event that the government defaulted in repaying. Following the Getax-funded trip, Amwano and two other MPs withdrew their support for the government, joining the opposition and causing Parliament to be evenly split between government and opposition MPs. This resulted in fresh parliamentary elections
in April 2010, in which Amwano retained his seat. On 30 June 2010, he was elected Speaker, and demanded that Stephen stand down as president. On 6 July, opposition MP Rykers Solomon
joined the government, potentially giving it the numbers to re-elect Stephen, or to elect a new president from within its ranks. As Speaker, however, Amwano refused to allow the election for president (by MPs) to be held. Amwano was dismissed by Stephen the following day, but refused to relinquish his post. In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea
announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position in Amwano's place.
In October, the Nauruan government accused Getax of having paid significant sums of money to opposition MPs, and of having funded the opposition's election campaign. The Australian Federal Police
investigated the allegations that Getax had bribed Nauruan MPs "to influence the political regime in Nauru in order to increase their stake in the country's phosphate". Amwano spoke up to defend Getax, denying any wrongdoing and adding that he "would be happy for the Australian Federal Police to investigate".
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
an politician.
Successive reversals of electoral fortune
Amwano started his parliamentary career in 1998, when he won a vacated seat in a by-election for the Ubenide Constituency following the resignation of former president Lagumot HarrisLagumot Harris
HE Lagumot Gagiemem Nimidere Harris was a political figure from the Pacific nation of the Republic of Nauru, and served as President of the Republic of Nauru. He was a cousin of René Harris.-First term as President of Nauru:...
.
2000, 2001 & 2003 polls
In the 2000 general elections he was re-elected; during a political crisis in 2001 all four Ubenide members lost their seats in parliament, but along with two colleagues Amwano subsequently regained the seat in the following by-election. After the 2003 general elections he lost his seat to Fabian RibauwFabian Ribauw
Fabian Dominic Ribauw is a political figure from the Pacific nation of Nauru.-Background and political role:Ribauw studied in Australia and earned a BA in Economics from La Trobe University, Melbourne....
.
2008 & 2010 elections
In 2008 he was re-elected to parliament, ousting Ribauw. He became part of President Marcus StephenMarcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen was President of the Republic of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. In addition to the presidency, he held the offices of Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, Minister for Police, Prisons, & Emergency Services, and Minister for Public...
's parliamentary majority, before switching over to the opposition in 2010. He was one of three non-Cabinet government MPs to switch to the opposition after benefiting from a trip to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
organised and paid for by the Australian company Getax, which buys Nauruan phosphate. Getax had just sought, unsuccessfully, to propose a loan to the Stephen government, with contractual clauses enabling it (the company) to take over Nauru's phosphate industry in the event that the government defaulted in repaying. Following the Getax-funded trip, Amwano and two other MPs withdrew their support for the government, joining the opposition and causing Parliament to be evenly split between government and opposition MPs. This resulted in fresh parliamentary elections
Nauruan parliamentary election, April 2010
Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 24 April 2010, following the dissolution of parliament by President Marcus Stephen on 16 March 2010. The election was called due to repeated attempts to oust the government of Marcus Stephen in votes of no-confidence. There were 86 candidates, eight of...
in April 2010, in which Amwano retained his seat. On 30 June 2010, he was elected Speaker, and demanded that Stephen stand down as president. On 6 July, opposition MP Rykers Solomon
Rykers Solomon
Rykers Solomon is a Nauruan politician.-Parliamentary role:Solomon has been elected to parliament in the 2007 general elections, gaining the seat of Dogabe Jeremiah...
joined the government, potentially giving it the numbers to re-elect Stephen, or to elect a new president from within its ranks. As Speaker, however, Amwano refused to allow the election for president (by MPs) to be held. Amwano was dismissed by Stephen the following day, but refused to relinquish his post. In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea
Landon Deireragea
Landon Deireragea is a Nauruan politician.-Parliamentary role:Deireragea has been elected to parliament in the 2008 general elections, gaining the seat of Cyril Buramen.He represents the Anetan Constituency in the Parliament of Nauru....
announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position in Amwano's place.
In October, the Nauruan government accused Getax of having paid significant sums of money to opposition MPs, and of having funded the opposition's election campaign. The Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
investigated the allegations that Getax had bribed Nauruan MPs "to influence the political regime in Nauru in order to increase their stake in the country's phosphate". Amwano spoke up to defend Getax, denying any wrongdoing and adding that he "would be happy for the Australian Federal Police to investigate".
See also
- Politics of NauruPolitics of NauruPolitics of Nauru takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Nauru is the head of government of the executive branch. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the parliament...
- Elections in NauruElections in NauruElections in Nauru gives information on election and election results in Nauru.Nauru elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. Parliament has 18 members, elected for a three year term in multi-seat constituencies...
- Nauruan parliamentary election, 2008Nauruan parliamentary election, 2008Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on April 26, 2008, 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"...
- Nauruan parliamentary election, April 2010Nauruan parliamentary election, April 2010Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 24 April 2010, following the dissolution of parliament by President Marcus Stephen on 16 March 2010. The election was called due to repeated attempts to oust the government of Marcus Stephen in votes of no-confidence. There were 86 candidates, eight of...