2016 Nauruan parliamentary election
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Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 9 July 2016.[1] Parliament was dissolved by President Baron Waqa on 10 June after it completed its three-year term. Speaker Ludwig Scotty called the elections for 9 July, with nominations taking place between 19 and 25 June.
Electoral system
[edit]The 19 members of Parliament were elected from eight multi-member constituencies using the Dowdall system, a version of ranked voting; voters ranked candidates, with the votes counted as a fraction of 1 divided by the ranking number (e.g. a candidate ranked second will be scored as ½); the candidates with the highest total are elected.[2]
Conduct
[edit]Opposition politicians in Nauru expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the election. In December 2015, opposition MP Mathew Batsiua accused the government of using public funds to buy favor through excessive, free inaugural flights.[3] In February 2016 another suspended opposition MP, former president Sprent Dabwido, claimed that a new law requiring public servants to resign from their jobs three months ahead of election day was a tactic used to suppress prospective candidates from running.[4] Batsiua additionally claimed in March 2016 that the increase in candidacy fees from US$74 to US$1500 was a suppression tactic.[5] Responding to the increase in candidacy price, some prospective parliamentary candidates turned to crowdfunding. By May 2016, 18 prospective candidates had filed an application to the Supreme Court of Nauru to challenge the increased candidacy price.[6] In June, parliament reduced the candidacy fee from US$1500 to US$500, and abolished the requirement for public servants to resign their jobs three months before the election.[7][8]
In March 2016, former presidents Dabwido and Marcus Stephen accused the Baron Waqa government of attempting to rig the 2016 elections by suppressing protest, press access, and social media websites, as well as creating new barriers for prospective candidates, among other things. They requested representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Commonwealth Secretariat serve as international observers for the elections.[9] The PIF and the Commonwealth Secretariat signalled they would require an invitation from the government to observe the elections.[10][11] President Waqa expressed an openness to international observers.[12] By June, both the PIF and Commonwealth Secretariat confirmed that they would observe the election.[13] The observer teams arrived in July.[14] The Commonwealth Secretariat's team was led by Anote Tong, former president of Kiribati.[15]
Ahead of the election, Dabwido accused the government of preventing local media from running opposition campaign ads, as well as intervening with the police commissioner, preventing the opposition from holding a campaign rally.[16] Communications Minister Shadlog Bernicke explained that Nauru TV does not air political ads for either the government or opposition, and accused the opposition of using the foreign press to spread disinformation.[17] Bernicke further accused Dabwido of "political point scoring" and attempting to influence the international observers with lies.[18]
Both the PIF and Commonwealth Secretariat found the 2016 parliamentary elections to be free and fair.[19][20]
Results
[edit]Voting took place on 9 July, except in the Aiwo Constituency, where it was halted and delayed until 11 July.[21] This was due to a legal dispute brought by Tazio Gideon, who challenged the Electoral Commission's refusal of his nomination to stand in the election.[22]
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Aiwo | Milton Dube | 224 | 238 | 62 | 42 | 107 | 395.57 | Elected | ||||||||||||
Aaron Cook | 243 | 158 | 69 | 115 | 88 | 391.35 | Elected | |||||||||||||
Dantes Tsitsi | 149 | 62 | 95 | 129 | 238 | 291.52 | ||||||||||||||
Lance Agir | 35 | 102 | 275 | 164 | 97 | 238.07 | ||||||||||||||
Preston Thoma | 22 | 113 | 181 | 214 | 143 | 220.93 | ||||||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 685 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Anabar | Riddell Akua | 134 | 103 | 78 | 59 | 57 | 103 | 61 | 263.53 | Elected | ||||||||||
Jaden Dogireiy | 120 | 105 | 84 | 71 | 65 | 57 | 93 | 254.04 | Elected | |||||||||||
Ludwig Scotty | 116 | 95 | 86 | 74 | 60 | 71 | 93 | 247.79 | ||||||||||||
Pyon Deiye | 89 | 76 | 96 | 109 | 76 | 81 | 68 | 224.66 | ||||||||||||
Jeb Bop | 76 | 77 | 79 | 96 | 124 | 83 | 60 | 212.04 | ||||||||||||
Dawson Agege | 45 | 49 | 78 | 88 | 93 | 101 | 141 | 173.08 | ||||||||||||
Corey Menke | 15 | 89 | 95 | 97 | 120 | 96 | 83 | 167.27 | ||||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 603 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Anetan | Sean Oppenheimer | 148 | 261 | 101 | 40 | 26 | 31 | 40 | 67 | 67 | 354.07 | Elected | ||||||||
Cyril Buraman | 221 | 52 | 43 | 48 | 29 | 24 | 67 | 50 | 247 | 326.40 | Elected | |||||||||
Marcus Stephen | 146 | 135 | 58 | 54 | 41 | 37 | 66 | 110 | 134 | 298.77 | ||||||||||
Antonius Atuen | 137 | 98 | 89 | 82 | 53 | 39 | 42 | 183 | 58 | 288.59 | ||||||||||
Geoffrey Thoma | 60 | 42 | 136 | 101 | 112 | 157 | 89 | 50 | 34 | 222.89 | ||||||||||
Fabian Ika | 24 | 80 | 116 | 160 | 130 | 102 | 89 | 44 | 36 | 207.88 | ||||||||||
Landon Deireragea | 29 | 18 | 96 | 104 | 108 | 155 | 130 | 81 | 60 | 178.80 | ||||||||||
Joseph Harris | 12 | 43 | 72 | 118 | 164 | 121 | 86 | 86 | 79 | 171.78 | ||||||||||
Darryl Tom | 4 | 49 | 73 | 76 | 118 | 114 | 169 | 110 | 68 | 159.88 | ||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 800 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Boe | Asterio Appi | 123 | 95 | 120 | 51 | 26 | 19 | 25 | 88 | 22 | 248.63 | Elected | ||||||||
Baron Waqa | 151 | 80 | 43 | 23 | 17 | 31 | 24 | 60 | 140 | 246.13 | Elected | |||||||||
Mathew Batsiua | 144 | 46 | 42 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 79 | 173 | 225.75 | ||||||||||
Mike Dagiaro | 65 | 146 | 50 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 58 | 97 | 28 | 203.69 | ||||||||||
Abraham Aremwa | 38 | 45 | 94 | 102 | 84 | 67 | 91 | 27 | 21 | 164.01 | ||||||||||
Dale Cecil | 17 | 77 | 52 | 64 | 82 | 84 | 98 | 56 | 39 | 144.57 | ||||||||||
Geoffrey Harris | 20 | 37 | 59 | 86 | 111 | 124 | 62 | 46 | 24 | 139.81 | ||||||||||
Randwick Capelle | 5 | 34 | 80 | 114 | 88 | 74 | 89 | 37 | 48 | 129.77 | ||||||||||
Kinza Clodumar | 6 | 13 | 32 | 72 | 98 | 101 | 96 | 81 | 70 | 109.22 | ||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 579 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Buada | Shadlog Bernicke | 253 | 82 | 87 | 155 | 361.75 | Elected | |||||||||||||
Bingham Agir | 156 | 118 | 184 | 119 | 306.08 | Elected | ||||||||||||||
Sean Halstead | 61 | 276 | 149 | 91 | 271.42 | |||||||||||||||
Linkbelt Detabene | 107 | 101 | 157 | 212 | 262.83 | |||||||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 580 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Meneng | Tawaki Kam | 282 | 284 | 112 | 63 | 29 | 23 | 23 | 29 | 38 | 139 | 80 | 519.02 | Elected | ||||||
Lionel Aingimea | 237 | 198 | 81 | 43 | 34 | 32 | 63 | 48 | 69 | 74 | 223 | 436.22 | Elected | |||||||
Vodrick Detsiogo | 123 | 108 | 132 | 106 | 70 | 152 | 141 | 97 | 101 | 43 | 29 | 337.26 | Elected | |||||||
Sprent Dabwido | 132 | 125 | 81 | 69 | 82 | 79 | 44 | 67 | 71 | 191 | 161 | 324.60 | ||||||||
Squire Jeremiah | 89 | 155 | 110 | 80 | 68 | 52 | 65 | 84 | 80 | 165 | 154 | 304.61 | ||||||||
Robert Timothy | 80 | 59 | 88 | 155 | 148 | 128 | 140 | 97 | 116 | 67 | 24 | 282.41 | ||||||||
Elvin Brechtefeld | 43 | 25 | 163 | 161 | 106 | 106 | 115 | 112 | 109 | 70 | 92 | 246.85 | ||||||||
Deci Temaki | 42 | 39 | 72 | 107 | 244 | 136 | 114 | 130 | 74 | 85 | 59 | 238.34 | ||||||||
Rykers Solomon | 30 | 51 | 76 | 96 | 75 | 160 | 156 | 154 | 152 | 78 | 74 | 219.45 | ||||||||
Bweresallas Temaki | 14 | 39 | 67 | 151 | 167 | 161 | 143 | 107 | 84 | 76 | 93 | 213.01 | ||||||||
Doneke Kepae | 30 | 17 | 121 | 68 | 81 | 76 | 100 | 177 | 205 | 116 | 111 | 205.58 | ||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,133 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Ubenide | David Adeang | 271 | 244 | 162 | 90 | 74 | 46 | 37 | 31 | 37 | 29 | 42 | 43 | 43 | 106 | 76 | 174 | 542.36 | Elected | |
Ranin Akua | 269 | 100 | 244 | 67 | 55 | 60 | 57 | 48 | 46 | 27 | 45 | 38 | 32 | 86 | 150 | 181 | 497.21 | Elected | ||
Russ Kun | 137 | 192 | 240 | 236 | 210 | 72 | 69 | 55 | 41 | 41 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 28 | 50 | 38 | 467.15 | Elected | ||
Valdon Dowiyogo | 160 | 262 | 90 | 63 | 47 | 50 | 31 | 47 | 64 | 58 | 69 | 67 | 75 | 147 | 159 | 116 | 423.67 | Elected | ||
Reagan Aliklik | 108 | 136 | 99 | 135 | 159 | 92 | 81 | 67 | 68 | 57 | 51 | 51 | 56 | 49 | 88 | 208 | 358.65 | |||
Vyko Adeang | 134 | 62 | 55 | 173 | 154 | 77 | 66 | 87 | 77 | 119 | 86 | 101 | 124 | 85 | 67 | 38 | 349.66 | |||
Gabrissa Hartman | 86 | 93 | 160 | 123 | 121 | 173 | 152 | 94 | 73 | 77 | 61 | 128 | 70 | 43 | 29 | 22 | 346.87 | |||
David Detageauwa | 92 | 74 | 69 | 87 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 89 | 109 | 125 | 117 | 107 | 183 | 95 | 74 | 55 | 297.11 | |||
Freddie Pitcher | 80 | 95 | 48 | 55 | 82 | 76 | 58 | 66 | 65 | 74 | 84 | 129 | 119 | 82 | 149 | 243 | 275.99 | |||
Aloysius Amwano | 57 | 36 | 66 | 113 | 62 | 77 | 83 | 77 | 92 | 105 | 120 | 126 | 121 | 196 | 104 | 70 | 248.71 | |||
Fabian Ribauw | 48 | 57 | 55 | 64 | 90 | 98 | 99 | 94 | 125 | 105 | 139 | 134 | 137 | 80 | 116 | 64 | 247.24 | |||
Albert Teimitsi | 26 | 30 | 46 | 67 | 97 | 128 | 178 | 110 | 118 | 116 | 194 | 100 | 69 | 94 | 88 | 44 | 224.31 | |||
David Dowiyogo | 14 | 25 | 56 | 78 | 85 | 137 | 136 | 120 | 203 | 109 | 110 | 93 | 146 | 96 | 61 | 36 | 214.54 | |||
Kay Aliklik | 6 | 30 | 53 | 76 | 82 | 155 | 192 | 107 | 172 | 177 | 105 | 87 | 87 | 60 | 71 | 45 | 212.83 | |||
Renos Agege | 13 | 40 | 42 | 42 | 57 | 108 | 100 | 126 | 107 | 162 | 137 | 151 | 129 | 135 | 91 | 65 | 199.76 | |||
Darnard Dongobir | 4 | 21 | 27 | 35 | 56 | 85 | 93 | 281 | 108 | 122 | 114 | 114 | 84 | 123 | 131 | 107 | 180.76 | |||
Invalid/blank votes | 74 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,579 | |||||||||||||||||||
Constituency | Candidate | Preference votes | Total | Notes | ||||||||||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||
Yaren | Charmaine Scotty | 255 | 103 | 33 | 24 | 51 | 38 | 340.03 | Elected | |||||||||||
Kieren Keke | 122 | 52 | 46 | 82 | 65 | 137 | 219.67 | Elected | ||||||||||||
Robbie Eoe | 71 | 132 | 56 | 51 | 96 | 98 | 203.95 | |||||||||||||
John Mackay | 11 | 119 | 128 | 123 | 82 | 41 | 167.15 | |||||||||||||
Daigon Julius | 41 | 35 | 95 | 111 | 118 | 104 | 158.85 | |||||||||||||
Brian Amwano | 4 | 62 | 144 | 117 | 91 | 86 | 144.78 | |||||||||||||
Invalid/blank votes | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total | 510 | |||||||||||||||||||
Source: Nauru Electoral Commission |
Presidential election
[edit]On 13 July the newly elected MPs elected the president, who was required by the constitution be a member of parliament.[23] All new members joined the presidential majority, allowing Waqa to be re-elected president by sixteen votes to two against opposition Nauru First candidate Riddell Akua.
Cyril Buraman was elected Speaker.[24][25] Ludwig Scotty, the speaker of the previous Parliament, had lost his seat in Anabar. On 30 May 2019, there was a by-election after MP Jaden Dogireiy was disqualified from parliament, in which Scotty was elected.[26]
In September Dale Cecil, a candidate in Boe Constituency, filed an election petition against Waqa, accusing him of bribery and breaking advertisement law. Dabwido filed an election petition against Lionel Aingimea and Tawaki Kam in the Meneng Constituency. Both petitions were thrown out due to legal technicalities.[27]
References
[edit]- ^ "Speaker appoints 9 July for general elections". The Government of Nauru. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Electoral system IPU
- ^ "Nauru govt accused of pre-election bribes". Radio New Zealand. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "New law designed to eliminate political rivals - Nauru MP". Radio New Zealand. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru hikes election fees 20 fold". Radio New Zealand. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Prospective Nauru election candidates turn to crowdfunding". Radio New Zealand. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru govt backs down over onerous election fees". Radio New Zealand. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "We want our jobs back - candidates in Nauru". Radio New Zealand. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Helen (14 March 2016). "Nauru election: former presidents say moves to 'rig' result under way". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Commonwealth says no invite yet to observe Nauru poll". Loop Nauru. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Davidson, Helen (15 March 2016). "Nauru election monitors 'would need to be invited'". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru open to election observers". Radio New Zealand. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Forum and Commonwealth will observe Nauru elections". Loop Nauru. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Election observers travel to Nauru". Loop Nauru. 2 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Commonwealth election observers head to Nauru, led by former President of Kiribati". Loop Nauru. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru opposition alleges campaign interference". Radio New Zealand. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Campaign interference claims dog Nauru election". Radio New Zealand. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru Opposition false claims show election eve desperation says Government". Loop Nauru. 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Observers say Nauru polling day free and fair". Loop Nauru. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "NAURU NATIONAL ELECTIONS 2016 REPORT OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM ELECTION OBSERVER TEAM" (PDF). Pacific Island Forum Secretariat. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Nauru election: President Baron Waqa re-elected as voting in Aiwo constituency postponed". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Voting hold up in one Nauru constituency". Loop Nauru. 9 July 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ Constitution of Nauru (PDF) (Constitution, The President III). The Parliament of Nauru. 29 January 1968. p. 12-13.
- ^ Returning Nauru Govt promises more stability Radio New Zealand, 13 July 2016
- ^ 13/7/16 NTV news report NTV News, 13 July 2016
- ^ "Ludwig Scotty returns to Nauru parliament after by-election". Loop Nauru (Press release). 31 May 2019. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Two Nauru election petitions struck out". Loop Nauru. 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.