2013 Nauruan parliamentary election

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]

2013 Nauruan parliamentary election

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Presidential vote
 
Nominee Baron Waqa Roland Kun
Electoral vote 13 5

President before election

Sprent Dabwido

President-designate

Baron Waqa

Background

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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

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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 12, the third preference a score of 13 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

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PartyVotes%Seats
Supporters of Baron Waqa14
Opponents of Baron Waqa5
Total19
Total votes5,349
Registered voters/turnout5,52896.76
Source: Turner IPU

By constituency

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c Nauru calls emergency for early elections Adelaid Now, 27 May 2013
  2. ^ Nauru awaits election date with parliament set to be dissolved PINA, 1 March 2013
  3. ^ "Nauru parliament dissolved and election date announced". Radio New Zealand. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Supreme court orders cancellation of Nauru election". Radio New Zealand. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Nauru calls June 22 election Archived 2014-01-03 at the Wayback Machine 9 News, 23 May 2013
  6. ^ "Baron Waqa named as new Nauru president - Yahoo!7". Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  7. ^ Nauru MP Alleges Government Has Lost Mandate Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine Pacific Islands Report, 20 February 2013
  8. ^ Nauru's Speaker dissolves parliament Politics Abroad, 1 March 2013
  9. ^ "Nauru MP could bring legal challenge over parliamentary adjournment". Radio New Zealand. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Nauru court rules parliament illegally adjourned". Radio New Zealand. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Nauru parliament adjournment risks constitutional crisis". Radio New Zealand. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Nauru MPs fail to topple president". Radio New Zealand. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ Election Profile IFES
  14. ^ Nauru country brief Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  15. ^ President Dabwido gives it another go Archived 2013-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Island Business, 6 June 2013
  16. ^ Nauru prepares for 'critical' elections this weekend Archived 2013-10-27 at the Wayback Machine RZNI, 7 June 2013
  17. ^ Constitution of Nauru (PDF) (Constitution, The President III). The Parliament of Nauru. 29 January 1968. p. 12-13.
  18. ^ "Nauru swears in new president". Bangkok Post. 11 June 2013.