1971 Nauruan parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 23 January 1971.[1] As there were no political parties, all candidates ran as independents. Following the election, Hammer DeRoburt was re-elected president by members of the Parliament.

Electoral system

The elections were the first to use the Dowdall system.[2]

Campaign

A total of 48 candidates contested the 18 seats. In Anabar Constituency the two incumbent MPs were returned unopposed.[3]

Results

Four sitting MPs were unseated in the election; Speaker Itubwa Amram, Asa Paul Diema, Totouwa Depaune and Derog Gioura.[3]

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	Independents	859	100.00	18
Total		859	100.00	18
Valid votes		859	97.61
Invalid/blank votes		21	2.39
Total votes		880	100.00
Source: Pacific Islands Monthly

By constituency

Constituency	Candidate	Votes	Notes
Aiwo	Samuel Tsitsi	55.780	Elected
	Kinza Clodumar	47.010	Elected
	Itubwa Amram	45.540
	Reginald Akiri	30.730
	John Dedabwanouw Dube	26.106
	Patrick Deiri Uta Cook	23.782
	Deigoab Baigowa Marsh Bill	20.061
	John Agieman Thoma	19.075
	Libokamedo David Agir	18.700
	August Detonga Detonga Deiye	17.824
	Invalid/blank votes	3
	Total votes cast	107
Anabar[a]	Agoko Doguape	0	Elected
	David Peter Gadaraoa	0	Elected
	Invalid/blank votes	0
	Total votes cast	0
Anetan	Roy Degoregore	52.495	Elected
	Lawrence Stephen	44.538	Elected
	Asa Paul Diema Denagabwida	37.978
	Adago Denuwea Bucky Idarabwe	30.395
	Clouston Donasa Quinn Diema	21.895
	Jimmy Olsson	21.271
	Atsibwebada Abouke	20.597
	Invalid/blank votes	2
	Total votes cast	90
Boe	Hammer DeRoburt	77.783	Elected
	Kenas Aroi	41.133	Elected
	Labi Dagaben Harris	35.733
	Kelly Deouri Emiu	33.916
	Robert Heinrich Karl Grundler	23.766
	Invalid/blank votes	6
	Total votes cast	99
Buada	Austin Bernicke	69.000	Elected
	Ruben Kun	55.000	Elected
	Totouwa Depaune	52.000
	Invalid/blank votes	0
	Total votes cast	96
Meneng	James Ategan Bop	84.600	Elected
	David Audi Dabwido	48.807	Elected
	Ririanang Allan Thoma	48.142
	Harold Emwan Jeremiah	47.611
	Paul Denabauwa Jeremiah	40.547
	Denumidaoao Christmas Bam	39.564
	Dogaben Alec Jimrock Harris	35.576
	Invalid/blank votes	4
	Total votes cast	137
Ubenide	Buraro Detudamo	142.526	Elected
	Victor Eoaeo	105.084	Elected
	Kennan Adeang	83.230	Elected
	Lagumot Harris	79.336	Elected
	Derog Gioura	78.728
	Paul Lawrence Maginkieo Ribauw	62.920
	Mark Dennis Kun Reuben	48.886
	Jacob Dagabwinare	40.559
	Antonia David Garabwan	37.678
	Invalid/blank votes	4
	Total votes cast	244
Yaren	Joseph Detsimea Audoa	89.400	Elected
	Ludwig Dowong Keke	44.366	Elected
	Alfred Derangdedage Bribirinang Dick	35.850
	John Binono Willis	35.200
	Klaus Beiaua Jacob	34.933
	Invalid/blank votes	2
	Total votes cast	107
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 25 January, 1971

Aftermath

Following the elections, Hammer DeRoburt was the only candidate for president, and was elected unopposed by the newly elected Parliament. MPs also elected Kenas Aroi as Speaker and Victor Eoaeo as Deputy Speaker.[3]

DeRoburt's cabinet was unchanged from the previous parliamentary term with James Ategan Bop as Minister of Finance, Austin Bernicke as Minister for Health and Education, Joseph Detsimea Audoa as Minister of Justice and Buraro Detudamo as Minister of Works and Community Services and Minister Assistant to the President. DeRoburt held the portfolios of External Affairs, Internal Affairs and Island Development and Industry.[3]

Notes

1. In the Anabar Constituency, there were only two candidates for parliament in 1971. The constituency only has two seats, so the two candidates won by default, and in this constituency, there was no election.[4]

References

1. Republic of Nauru Government Gazette, 13 January 2017
2. "Nauru–Elections". Current notes on international affairs (42): 31. January 1971.
3. DeRobert back as President Pacific Islands Monthly, February 1971, p30
4. Ayers, J. R. (13 January 1971). "ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAURU" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (3): 9–10.