2020 Kiribati parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections in Kiribati were originally planned on 7 April 2020, with a second round of voting to be held on 15 April 2020.[1] However, in late March the Electoral Commission changed the voting date to 14 April 2020,[2] with a second round on 21 April 2020.[3]
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All 44 seats in the House of Assembly 23 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Kiribati |
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The elections resulted in President Taneti Maamau's pro-China Tobwaan Kiribati Party losing a majority in parliament to parties either supportive of Taiwan or critical of his handling of diplomatic recognition of China.[4] But on 26 May, the 44 MPs were equally divided on 2 benches : 22 MPs supporting the new Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party and the 22 MPs of the former majority.
Electoral system
Of the 45 members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu, 44 are elected in 23 single- and multi-member constituencies (seven with one seat, eleven with two seats and five with three seats)[5] using a modified two-round system. The other member of the Maneaba is chosen by the Rabi Council of Leaders to represent the Banaban community on Rabi Island in Fiji.[6] The Speaker is elected after the elections, from outside the Maneaba, and does not participate in votes.[7]
Voters have as many votes to cast as the number of seats in their constituencies. In the first round a candidate is elected if he or she receives more than 50% of the ballots cast.[5] Where not all seats are filled, a second round is held with the number of candidates being equal to the number of seats remaining to be filled plus two, with those who received the fewest votes in the first round being eliminated. A tie in the second round results in a third round of voting.[6]
The first meeting of the new session will be on 22 May.
Results
| Party | First round | Second round | Total seats |
+/– | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
| Pillars of Truth | ||||||||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | ||||||||
| Kiribati First Party | ||||||||
| Independent | ||||||||
| Speaker | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 46 | 0 | ||||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 44,929 | – | 44,929 | – | – | – | ||
| Source: Radio Kiribati | ||||||||
List of elected members
| Constituency | Political party[9] | Member | Assumed office | Notes[10] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makin | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | James Toam | |||
| Pillars of Truth | Pinto Katia | ||||
| Butaritari | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Alexander Teabo | |||
| Kiribati First Party | Tinian Reiher | ||||
| Marakei | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Ruateki Tekaiara | |||
| Moannata Ientaake | New MP | ||||
| Abaiang | Pillars of Truth | Kautu Tenaua | |||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Teuea Toatu | Current Vice-President of Kiribati | |||
| Betero Atanibora | New MP | ||||
| North Tarawa | Harry Tekaiti | New MP | |||
| Terieta Mwemwenikeaki | New MP | ||||
| Pillars of Truth | Boutu Bateriki | ||||
| South Tarawa | Taabeta Teakai | New MP | |||
| Pillars of Truth | Shiu-Fung Jong | ||||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Taoaba Kaiea | ||||
| Betio | Tinte Itinteang | New MP | |||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Ioteba Redfern | ||||
| Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tebao Awerika | ||||
| Maiana | Koraubati Remuera | New MP | |||
| Pillars of Truth | Vincent Tong | New MP | |||
| Kuria | Kiribati First Party | Banuera Berina | |||
| Aranuka | Martin Moreti | Returning MP | |||
| Abemama | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Willie Tokataake | |||
| Tessie Lambourne | New MP | ||||
| Nonouti | Pillars of Truth | Ieremia Tabai | First President of Kiribati | ||
| Kiribati First Party | Bonteman Tabera | ||||
| Tabiteuea North | Pillars of Truth | Taberannang Timeon | |||
| Tarakabu Martin | New MP | ||||
| Tabiteuea South | Booti Nauan | New MP | |||
| Onotoa | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Taneti Mamau | 5th President of Kiribati | ||
| Taiaki Irata | New MP | ||||
| Beru | Bataromaio Kiritian | New MP | |||
| Pillars of Truth | England Iuta | ||||
| Nikunau | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tauanei Marea | |||
| Ribanataake Tiwau | New MP | ||||
| Tamana | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Tekeeua Tarati | |||
| Arorae | Pillars of Truth | Teima Onorio | Former Vice-President of Kiribati | ||
| Kiritimati | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | Mikarite Temari | |||
| Kiribati First Party | Jacob Teem | ||||
| Bakaia Kiabo | New MP | ||||
| Tabuaeran | Kiribati First Party | Tekiau Aretateta | |||
| Kiribati First Party | Tewaaki Kobae | ||||
| Teraina | Kiribati First Party | Nantongo Timeon | |||
| Banaba | Kiribati First Party | Tibanga Taratai | |||
| Rabi Island | |||||
References
- Kiribati to go to polls for elections in April Radio New Zealand, 6 March 2020
- 44,929 registered for elections Radio Kiribati, 26 March 2020
- RNZ, 21 April 2020
- Pala, Christopher (23 April 2020). "Pro-China Kiribati president loses majority over switch from Taiwan". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
- Kiribati Pacific Women in Politics
- Kiribati Election Passport
- Last elections IPU
- "Current Members". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- "Party Members". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- "Current Ministers". Parliament of Kiribati (Maneaba ni Maungatabu). Retrieved 9 July 2019.