Nauruan parliamentary election, June 2010
Encyclopedia
Early parliamentary elections were held in Nauru
on 2010 after the previous parliamentary election
in April 2010 had resulted in a deadlock between government and opposition, tied at nine seats each. This led to an extended state of emergency
in Nauru as a result of this election.
imposed by President of Nauru
Marcus Stephen
. Voters were given just one week's notice for the date of the election.
.
One MP belonging to the opposition lost the re-election, while all 17 others were re-elected. Independent MP Milton Dube
holds the balance of power. The Nauru Parliament's two groups must compete for his support. Dube was elected in Aiwo constituency, unseating Dantes Tsitsi
of the Opposition. The new MP declared himself independent, and stated he would support the side which would do the most for his constituency. He wants to reduce the levels of phosphate dust from a problematic drying plant. The MP in favour of government, Doctor Kieren Keke
, plans to discuss the matter with Dube within a week of his election. Parliament have scheduled a sitting on the Tuesday morning following the election.
Aloysius Amwano
was successfully elected as speaker on 30 June 2010, but demanded that Stephen stand down as president. Stephen's followers agreed to this, but only if the new president came from their ranks, with their preferred nominee being Kieren Keke
. However, there are two other contenders, Baron Waqa
(the opposition leader) and Godfrey Thoma
.
Rykers Solomon
, an opposition MP, joined the government on 6 July 2010, but Amwano nonetheless refused to allow a motion to elect the president, suspending parliament until 8 July 2010. Amwano was then dismissed on 7 July 2010 by Stephen, but refused to quit. In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July 2010, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea
announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position.
Following further disagreements, the president called a state of emergency
.
On November 1, former President Ludwig Scotty
was elected Speaker, ending the deadlock. Marcus Stephen was subsequently re-elected as President, defeating Milton Dube
11 to 6.
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...
on 2010 after the previous parliamentary election
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 had resulted in a deadlock between government and opposition, tied at nine seats each. This led to an extended state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
in Nauru as a result of this election.
Background
The election occurred during a state of emergencyState of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
imposed by President of Nauru
President of Nauru
The President of Nauru is elected by Parliament from amongst its members. He is both the head of state and head of government of Nauru. Nauru's unicameral Parliament has 18 members, with an electoral term of 3 years. Political parties only play a minor role in Nauru politics, and there has often...
Marcus Stephen
Marcus 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...
. Voters were given just one week's notice for the date of the election.
Result
The result was no clear majority, meaning a hung parliamentHung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
.
One MP belonging to the opposition lost the re-election, while all 17 others were re-elected. Independent MP Milton Dube
Milton Dube
Milton Dube is a Nauruan politician.He took part in the June 2010 parliamentary election, and came first in the Aiwo constituency, unseating Opposition MP Dantes Tsitsi...
holds the balance of power. The Nauru Parliament's two groups must compete for his support. Dube was elected in Aiwo constituency, unseating Dantes Tsitsi
Dantes Tsitsi
Dantes Ingin Tsitsi is a Nauruan politician.-Political role:Tsitsi was elected to Parliament in the 2007 general elections, gaining the seat of Godfrey Thoma and representing the constituency of Aiwo...
of the Opposition. The new MP declared himself independent, and stated he would support the side which would do the most for his constituency. He wants to reduce the levels of phosphate dust from a problematic drying plant. The MP in favour of government, Doctor Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
, plans to discuss the matter with Dube within a week of his election. Parliament have scheduled a sitting on the Tuesday morning following the election.
Aloysius Amwano
Aloysius Amwano
Aloysius Arabao Iyomogo Edrick Amwano is a Nauruan politician.-Successive reversals of electoral fortune:...
was successfully elected as speaker on 30 June 2010, but demanded that Stephen stand down as president. Stephen's followers agreed to this, but only if the new president came from their ranks, with their preferred nominee being Kieren Keke
Kieren Keke
Kieren Aedogan Ankwong Keke is a Nauruan politician and medical doctor. He is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and has previously been speaker of the Nauruan Parliament.-Background:...
. However, there are two other contenders, Baron Waqa
Baron Waqa
Baron Divavesi Waqa is a Nauruan politician.-Policial role:He was elected in the May 2003 elections to the Parliament of Nauru, representing the constituency of Boe. Under president Ludwig Scotty he served as Minister of the Interior and of Education; he had, however, to leave the post upon...
(the opposition leader) and Godfrey Thoma
Godfrey Thoma
Godfrey Awaire Thoma is a Nauruan politician.-Member of Parliament:Thoma started his first term in the parliament after being elected in 1995, ousting Theodore Moses after only three years...
.
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...
, an opposition MP, joined the government on 6 July 2010, but Amwano nonetheless refused to allow a motion to elect the president, suspending parliament until 8 July 2010. Amwano was then dismissed on 7 July 2010 by Stephen, but refused to quit. In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July 2010, 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.
Following further disagreements, the president called a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
.
On November 1, former President Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Scotty
Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a two-time former President of the Republic of Nauru. He served as President from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003, then from 22 June 2004 to his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007....
was elected Speaker, ending the deadlock. Marcus Stephen was subsequently re-elected as President, defeating Milton Dube
Milton Dube
Milton Dube is a Nauruan politician.He took part in the June 2010 parliamentary election, and came first in the Aiwo constituency, unseating Opposition MP Dantes Tsitsi...
11 to 6.