Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 8 June 2013.[1] After Parliament was dissolved on 1 March,[2] the elections were set for 6 April.[3] However, a Supreme Court ruling annulled the dissolution and cancelled the elections.[4] Parliament was dissolved again on 23 May, approximately one month before the normal end of its mandate, and elections were set for 22 June 2013,[5] however President Sprent Dabwido declared a state of emergency and brought the election forward to 8 June.[1] Parliament first sat on June 11 and Fisheries Minister Baron Waqa, the leader of the government forces, was elected president.[6]
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Background edit
In February 2013 a constitutional crisis developed after two cabinet members resigned and a third was sacked by President Sprent Dabwido, leaving just two members in the cabinet, whilst the 18-member Parliament split into three factions.[7] On 1 March Parliamentary Speaker Ludwig Scotty dissolved Parliament due to unruly behaviour by MPs,[8] and elections were set for 6 April.
Former President Marcus Stephen, who was one of the cabinet members to leave in February threatened to bring a legal challenge against the dissolution, claiming it had been carried out in an unconstitutional manner as MPs had not been given the chance to challenge the dissolution.[9] When Stephens and seven other MPs did take the matter to the Supreme Court, it ruled that the adjournment had been carried out unconstitutionally.[10] However, a government spokesman claimed that the Court had no power to force Scotty to reconvene Parliament.[11]
In mid-March the Supreme Court ruled that as the dissolution was null and void, the writ issued for elections in April was also null and void.[4]
Speaker Scotty resigned on 18 April and was replaced by Godfrey Thoma on 25 April. Thoma announced on 16 May that Parliament would be dissolved a week from that date.[12] Speaker Thoma dissolved Parliament on 23 May and set elections for 22 June.[5] On 27 May 2013 President Dabwido declared a state of emergency and re-set the election for 8 June 2013.[1]
Electoral system edit
MPs are elected in eight multi-members constituencies using the Dowdall system, a modified version of the Borda count. Voters rank candidates by preference, with the first preference given a score of 1, the second preference a score of 1⁄2, the third preference a score of 1⁄3 and so on. Voters must rank all candidates on the ballot for it to be valid. The candidates with the highest scores win the seats in a constituency.[13]
Until this election there had been 18 seats in Parliament with seven two-seat constituencies and one four-seat constituency, but following the June 2010 elections Parliament passed a bill to increase the number of seats to 19 to avoid 9–9 ties in the legislature.[14] The extra member will be elected in the Meneng Constituency, which previously had two seats.[15]
A record total of 68 candidates registered for the elections.[16]
Results edit
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporters of Baron Waqa | 14 | |||
| Opponents of Baron Waqa | 5 | |||
| Total | 19 | |||
| Total votes | 5,349 | – | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 5,528 | 96.76 | ||
| Source: Turner IPU | ||||
By constituency edit
| Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiwo | Milton Dube | 310.450 | Elected |
| Aaron Cook | 251.017 | Elected | |
| Dantes Tsitsi | 228.433 | ||
| Godfrey Thoma | 205.800 | ||
| Pamela Eibutsina Scriven | 170.950 | ||
| Lance Agir | 136.567 | ||
| Preston Thoma | 134.633 | ||
| Tazio Gideon | 119.383 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 17 | ||
| Total | 699 | ||
| Anabar | Ludwig Scotty | 255.300 | Elected |
| Riddell Akua | 242.500 | Elected | |
| Tyrone Deiye | 208.700 | ||
| Jaden Adun | 204.367 | ||
| Melissa Ika | 165.117 | ||
| Paul Nubwit Doguape | 136.717 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 15 | ||
| Total | 510 | ||
| Anetan | Cyril Buraman | 321.819 | Elected |
| Marcus Stephen | 299.493 | Elected | |
| Landon Deireragea | 264.029 | ||
| Aloysius Gonzaga Namaduk | 185.562 | ||
| Begg Adire | 177.245 | ||
| Haseldon Buraman | 168.400 | ||
| Paul Ika | 164.095 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 20 | ||
| Total | 630 | ||
| Boe | Mathew Batsiua | 279.619 | Elected |
| Baron Waqa | 224.467 | Elected | |
| Abraham Aremwa | 194.350 | ||
| Bryan Star | 172.100 | ||
| Lidira Ephraim | 152.167 | ||
| Kinza Clodumar | 138.600 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 10 | ||
| Total | 484 | ||
| Buada | Roland Kun | 235.308 | Elected |
| Shadlog Bernicke | 233.032 | Elected | |
| Bingham Agir | 203.975 | ||
| Sean Halstead | 154.451 | ||
| Vinson Detenamo | 153.155 | ||
| Arrow Depaune | 140.592 | ||
| Ace Capelle | 139.042 | ||
| Ishmael Fritz | 131.988 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 13 | ||
| Total | 525 | ||
| Meneng | Sprent Dabwido | 374.758 | Elected |
| Lyn-Wannan Kam | 356.112 | Elected | |
| Squire Jeremiah | 303.370 | Elected | |
| Lionel Aingimea | 272.512 | ||
| Rykers Solomon | 253.298 | ||
| Elvin Brechtefeld | 237.266 | ||
| Doneke Jim Kepae | 228.710 | ||
| Clint Deidenang | 191.806 | ||
| Sambruce Akibwib | 188.619 | ||
| Jerielyn Teleni | 186.341 | ||
| Nemo Levi Agadio | 185.627 | ||
| John Taumea Agadio | 172.250 | ||
| Nickos Simon | 166.315 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 37 | ||
| Total | 941 | ||
| Ubenide | David Adeang | 427.680 | Elected |
| Valdon Dowiyogo | 388.999 | Elected | |
| Russ J. Kun | 373.357 | Elected | |
| Ranin Akua | 357.949 | Elected | |
| Aloysius Amwano | 309.684 | ||
| Julian Itsimaera | 309.271 | ||
| Freddie Pitcher | 282.819 | ||
| Samuel Hansome Adumur | 267.771 | ||
| George Giovanni Gioura | 252.633 | ||
| Vyko Adeang | 207.965 | ||
| Renos Agege | 194.381 | ||
| Arde Ricky Bam | 189.442 | ||
| David Corey Dowiyogo | 180.847 | ||
| Darned Dongobir | 172.084 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 61 | ||
| Total | 1,265 | ||
| Yaren | Charmaine Scotty | 303.067 | Elected |
| Kieren Keke | 211.167 | Elected | |
| Dominic Tabuna | 187.467 | ||
| John Daigon Panen Julius | 170.333 | ||
| Omeri Agigo | 142.667 | ||
| Brian Amwano | 131.900 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 6 | ||
| Total | 474 | ||
| Total | 5,528 | ||
| Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 9 June 2013 | |||
Presidential election edit
On 11 June the newly elected MPs elected the president, who was required by the constitution be a member of parliament.[17] Baron Waqa defeated Roland Kun by 13 votes to five.[18]
References edit
- ^ a b c Nauru calls emergency for early elections Adelaid Now, 27 May 2013
- ^ Nauru awaits election date with parliament set to be dissolved PINA, 1 March 2013
- ^ "Nauru parliament dissolved and election date announced". Radio New Zealand. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Supreme court orders cancellation of Nauru election". Radio New Zealand. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ a b Nauru calls June 22 election Archived 2014-01-03 at the Wayback Machine 9 News, 23 May 2013
- ^ "Baron Waqa named as new Nauru president - Yahoo!7". Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ^ Nauru MP Alleges Government Has Lost Mandate Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine Pacific Islands Report, 20 February 2013
- ^ Nauru's Speaker dissolves parliament Politics Abroad, 1 March 2013
- ^ "Nauru MP could bring legal challenge over parliamentary adjournment". Radio New Zealand. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Nauru court rules parliament illegally adjourned". Radio New Zealand. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Nauru parliament adjournment risks constitutional crisis". Radio New Zealand. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Nauru MPs fail to topple president". Radio New Zealand. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Election Profile IFES
- ^ Nauru country brief Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- ^ President Dabwido gives it another go Archived 2013-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Island Business, 6 June 2013
- ^ Nauru prepares for 'critical' elections this weekend Archived 2013-10-27 at the Wayback Machine RZNI, 7 June 2013
- ^ Constitution of Nauru (PDF) (Constitution, The President III). The Parliament of Nauru. 29 January 1968. p. 12-13.
- ^ "Nauru swears in new president". Bangkok Post. 11 June 2013.