June 2010 Nauruan parliamentary election

June 2010 Nauruan parliamentary election

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All 18 seats in the Parliament of Nauru
  First party Second party
 
Leader Marcus Stephen Baron Waqa
Grouping Supporters of Stephen Opponents of Stephen
Last election 9 seats 9 seats
Seats won 9 8
Seat change Steady Decrease 1

President before election

Marcus Stephen
Independent

President-designate

Marcus Stephen
Independent

Early parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 19 June 2010 after the previous parliamentary election in April 2010 had resulted in a deadlock between government and opposition, tied at nine seats each.[1] This led to an extended state of emergency in Nauru as a result of this election.[2][3]

Background

The election occurred during a state of emergency imposed by President of Nauru Marcus Stephen.[2][4] Voters were given just one week's notice for the date of the election.[2]

Results

The result was no clear majority,[2] meaning a hung parliament.[5]

One MP belonging to the opposition, Dantes Tsitsi, failed to be re-elected, while all 17 others were re-elected.[6][7] Independent MP Milton Dube holds the balance of power.[2] The Nauru Parliament's two groups must compete for his support.[8] Dube was elected in Aiwo constituency, unseating Dantes Tsitsi of the Opposition.[8] The new MP declared himself independent, and stated he would support the side which would do the most for his constituency.[8] He wants to reduce the levels of phosphate dust from a problematic drying plant.[8] The MP in favour of government, Doctor Kieren Keke, planned to discuss the matter with Dube within a week of his election.[2] Parliament have scheduled a sitting on the Tuesday morning following the election.[9]

PartyVotes%Seats
Supporters of Marcus Stephen9
Opponents of Marcus Stephen8
Independents1
Total18
Valid votes5,18097.98
Invalid/blank votes1072.02
Total votes5,287100.00
Registered voters/turnout5,70492.69
Source: Australia Network News, IPU

By constituency

Constituency Candidate Votes Notes
Aiwo Milton Dube 305.183 Elected
Godfrey Thoma 299.083 Re-elected
Dantes Tsitsi 295.650 Unseated
Aaron Cook 269.450
Preston Jovani Thoma 250.867
Invalid/blank votes 3
Total votes cast 625
Anabar Riddell Akua 283.326 Re-elected
Ludwig Scotty 261.206 Re-elected
Tyrone Deiye 245.530
Jeb Nobob Bop 138.237
David Peter Gadaraoa 130.708
Melissa Neirina Ika 130.413
Vincent Scotty 129.906
Espen Jubal Fritz 110.267
Invalid/blank votes 15
Total votes cast 541
Anetan Marcus Stephen 349.617 Re-elected
Landon Deireragea 335.433 Re-elected
Cyril Buraman 317.717
Cheyenne Timothy Ika 184.833
Begg Bagadouwe Adire 183.217
Creiden Fritz 172.683
Invalid/blank votes 9
Total votes cast 639
Boe Mathew Batsiua 281.900 Re-elected
Baron Waqa 277.417 Re-elected
Vollmer Mercury Appi 218.50
Abraham Aremwa 214.533
Joy Edith Heine 188.483
Invalid/blank votes 3
Total votes cast 520
Buada Shadlog Bernicke 252.767 Re-elected
Roland Kun 232.317 Re-elected
Alexander Stephen 175.300
Vinson Franco Detenamo 156.850
Monte Depaune 155.050
Johan Scotty 149.817
Invalid/blank votes 3
Total votes cast 461
Meneng Rykers Solomon 394.445 Re-elected
Sprent Dabwido 368.577 Re-elected
Lyn-Wannan Kam 335.759
Doneke Jim Benedict Kepae 197.069
Alvin Harris 192.717
Elvin Squire Brechtefeld 191.166
Darius Rock 177.362
Roxen Debagabene Agadio 168.341
Darkey Jeremiah 168.031
Simpson Simon 167.282
Invalid/blank votes 21
Total votes cast 827
Ubenide David Adeang 422.974 Re-elected
Frederick Pitcher 414.240 Re-elected
Aloysius Amwano 393.787 Re-elected
Valdon Dowiyogo 357.014 Re-elected
Ranin Akua 313.724
Julian Itsimaera 283.724
George Giovanni Gioura 255.857
Vyko Pentax Adeang 240.325
Fabian Ribauw 228.040
Maria Gaiyabu 202.255
Greta Diva Harris 192.848
Renos Renige Agege 184.514
David Corey Dowiyogo 181.250
Skipper Diovanni Hiram 174.567
Darnard Dongobir 166.621
Invalid/blank votes 50
Total votes cast 1,259
Yaren Dominic Tabuna 254.667 Re-elected
Kieren Keke 232.167 Re-elected
Charmaine Scotty 206.483
John Daigon Julius 125.517
Brian Amwano 121.900
Invalid/blank votes 3
Total votes cast 415
Source: Republic of Nauru Government Gazette

Presidential election

Following parliamentary elections, newly elected MPs elect a president from amongst their number. After the April parliamentary elections, the presidential election was attempted to be held on 3 June and 4 June 2010, but failed both times.[10][11]

Following the new parliamentary elections on 19 June, Aloysius Amwano was elected as speaker on 30 June, but demanded that Stephen stand down as president.[12] 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)[13] and Godfrey Thoma.[14] Another attempt at electing a president was set for 6 July.[15]

Although Rykers Solomon, an opposition MP, joined the government on 6 July, but Amwano nonetheless refused to allow a motion to elect the president, suspending parliament until 8 July.[16] Amwano was then dismissed on 7 July by Stephen,[17] but refused to quit.[18] In a short parliamentary session held on 9 July, Deputy Speaker Landon Deireragea announced that he had assumed the Speaker's position.[19]

By 30 July 2010 parliament had still had not sat since the sacking of Amwano and Stephen extended the state of emergency by 21 days.[20] The emergency was subsequently extended several times continued into October.[21]

The deadlock was finally broken when former president Ludwig Scotty accepted the nomination to become speaker,[22] and Stephen was elected over opposition MP Milton Dube in a secret vote with 11 to 6 votes on 1 November 2010.[23]

References

  1. ^ "Nauru to go back to the polls after seven weeks of stalemate". Radio New Zealand International. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "No clear majority in Nauru election". Australia Network News. 20 June 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Results of the General Election held on 19th June 2010" (PDF). Parliament of Nauru. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Nauru's newly elected MPs lobby to form new government". Australia Network News. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  5. ^ "Unofficial results from Nauru election indicate on going stalemate". Radio New Zealand International. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  6. ^ "AFP: Nauru still deadlocked after second election". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  7. ^ "Both groups in Nauru Parliament vie for support of single new MP". Radio New Zealand International. 21 June 2010. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "Both groups in Nauru Parliament vie for support of single new MP". Radio New Zealand International. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  9. ^ "Plans for coalition still alive in Nauru after another indecisive election". Radio New Zealand International. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Nauru's newly elected Speaker delays vote for President until Thursday". Rnzi.com. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Further delay in Nauru parliament". Rnzi.com. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  12. ^ "Pacific Beat:Story:Nauru elects speaker who pushes for new president". Radio Australia. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  13. ^ "Hopes Nauru deadlock can be solved today". Radio New Zealand International. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  14. ^ "ABC Radio Australia News:Stories:Nauru edges closer towards political deal". Radioaustralianews.net.au. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  15. ^ "Nauru to make fresh attempt to choose president". Rnzi.com. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Nauru Government breaks parliamentary deadlock but Speaker blocks vote". Radio New Zealand International. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  17. ^ "Nauru speaker removed as deadlock continues". Radio New Zealand International. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  18. ^ "Stories:Nauru Speaker refuses order to quit". Australia Network News. 8 July 2010. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  19. ^ "Nauru parliament sits briefly again amid Speaker void". Radio New Zealand International. 9 July 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  20. ^ "Nauru's State of Emergency extended for another 21 days". Wellington: Radio New Zealand International. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  21. ^ "Nauru emergency extended until October". Wellington: Radio New Zealand International. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
  22. ^ Campbell Cooney (1 November 2010). "Nauru ends political deadlock". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Nauru deadlock ends as Scotty accepts speaker's position". Radio New Zealand International. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.