Politics of Kiribati
Politics of Kiribati takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Kiribati is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the House of Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The Constitution, promulgated at independence on 12 July 1979, establishes the Republic of Kiribati as a sovereign democratic republic and guarantees the fundamental rights of its citizens.
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Kiribati |
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Executive branch
After each general election, the new Maneaba ni Maungatabu (House of Assembly) nominates three or four of its own members to stand as candidates for President (Te Beretitenti). The voting public then elects the Beretitenti from among these candidates. The Beretitenti appoints a Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti (Vice-President) and up to ten other Cabinet Ministers from among the members of the Maneaba.
Office | Name | Party | Since |
---|---|---|---|
President | Taneti Mamau | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 11 March 2016 |
Vice President | Teuea Toatu | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 19 June 2019 |
Cabinet
The Cabinet is the top decision-making body in Kiribati, through which all functions of the government get their authority. Parliament can undo Cabinet decisions through a vote of no confidence, triggering a new election.
The current Cabinet consists of the following Ministers:
Office | Officeholder |
---|---|
President | Taneti Mamau |
Vice President and Minister for Public Works and Utilities | Kourabi Nenem |
Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resource Development | Tetabo Nakara |
Minister for Environment, Lands, and Agriculture Development | Tebao Awerika |
Minister for Education | Alexander Teabo |
Minister for Health and Medical Services | Kobebe Taitai |
Minister for Finance and Economic Development | Dr. Teuea Toatu |
Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development | Ruateki Tekaiara |
Minister for Commerce and Industry & Cooperative | Tauanei Marea |
Minister for Communication, Transportation, and Tourism & Industry Development | Willie Tokataake |
Minister for Lines and Phoenix Islands Development | Mikarite Temari |
Minister for Internal and Social Affairs | Atarake Nataara |
Minister for Women, Youth, and Sports | David Collins |
Minister of Justice | Natan Teewe |
Attorneys-General of Kiribati
In Kiribati, the Attorney-General is defined by section 42 of the Constitution as "the principal legal adviser to the Government."[1] The Constitution specifies: "No person shall be qualified to hold or to act in the office of Attorney-General unless he is qualified to practise in Kiribati as an advocate in the High Court."
The Attorney-General of Kiribati[1] is also a member of Cabinet. According to a 2005 source, the Attorney-General "is designated by the Republic of Kiribati as the Central Authority who shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance."[2]
Name | Years of Service |
---|---|
Michael Jennings[3][4] | c. 1980-1984 |
Michael N. Takabwebwe[5][6][7] | c. 1984-2002 |
Titabu Tabane[8][9][10][11][12] | c. 2002-2016 |
Natan Brechtefeld[13][14] | c. 2016 |
Tetiro Semilota[15] (1st I-Kiribati female) | c. 2016- |
Legislative branch
The unicameral House of Assembly (Maneaba ni Maungatabu) has 46 members: 44 elected for a four-year term in single-seat and multi-seat constituencies; one appointed member from the Banaban community on Rabi Island in Fiji, and the Attorney-General in an ex officio capacity. The elected members of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu serve four-year terms. The Speaker of the Maneaba ni Maungatabu is elected by the members of the Maneaba from outside of its membership.
All citizens of Kiribati are eligible to vote at the age of 18.
Judicial branch
The judicial system consists of magistrates' courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The Beretitenti (President), acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission, makes all judicial appointments.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, England has jurisdiction only if a case involves constitutional rights. Appeals are taken directly to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council itself.
The Court of Appeal of Kiribati is otherwise the supreme court in Kiribati.
The People's Lawyer of Kiribati
The People's Lawyer of Kiribati represents disadvantaged residents and those who are unable to access legal representation. Accordingly, the office represents clients in "Land, Civil and Criminal Matters and act for them in the Magistrates and High Court as well as the Court of Appeal." The position had long been filled by expatriate lawyers who were volunteering from either Australia or New Zealand with the "role...funded by the Australian Government through [the] Australian Volunteers International."[16][17] In 2015, the role of The People's Lawyer changed in that it was now filled by a Kiribati citizen: Raweita Beniata (male lawyer; 2015- ).[18][19]
Name | Term |
---|---|
Roger Bell (who established the office)[20][21][22] | c. 1980-1982 |
Michael Lodge[23][24] | c. -1986 |
David Lambourne[25] | c. 1995-1999 |
Jackie Huston[26] | c. 2003-2004 |
Jennifer Troup[27] | c. 2004-2006 |
Joelle Grover[28][29] | c. 2006-2007 |
Aomoro Amten[30][31][32] | c. 2007-2008 |
Daniel Webb[33] | c. 2010-2011 |
Debrah Mercurio[34][35] | c. 2011-2012 |
Nancy Walker[36][37]
Andrea Hadaway[38] |
c. 2012-2013 |
Jessica McLaren[17] | c. 2013-2015 |
Raweita Beniata[19][39] (1st I-Kiribati male citizen) | c. 2015- |
Political conditions
Political parties have existed since 1985 but are more similar to informal coalitions in behaviour. They do not have official platforms or party structures. Most candidates formally present themselves as independents. The website of the House of Assembly explains that in this way:[40]
- "There are four political parties in Kiribati, Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK), Maurin Kiribati Party (MKP), Maneaban Te Mauri Party (MMP) and Kiribati Tabomoa Party. The parties are loose groupings rather than disciplined blocks, with little or no structure. Members may change allegiance on a number of occasions during their tenure. It is also common for members to vote according to the special interests of their electorate on certain issues."
Kiribati Tabomoa Party ("National Progressive Party") and Christian Democratic Party merged into Maneaban Te Mauri (MMP, "Protect the Maneaba") in 2003, which later merged with Kiribati Independent Party into Karikirakean Te I-Kiribati (KTK, "United Coalition Party") in 2010, which later merged with Maurin Kiribati Party (MKP) to form Tobwaan Kiribati Party (TKP), the only one facing Boutokaan Te Koaua (BTK, "Pillars of Truth").
A major source of conflict has been the protracted bid by the residents of Banaba Island to secede and have their island placed under the protection of Fiji. The government's attempts to placate the Banabans include several special provisions in the constitution, such as the designation of a Banaban seat in the legislature and the return of land previously acquired by the government for phosphate mining.
Political parties and elections
2016 presidential election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|
Taneti Mamau | Tobwaan Kiribati Party | 19,833 | 59.96 |
Rimeta Beniamina | Pillars of Truth | 12,764 | 38.59 |
Tianeti Ioane | Pillars of Truth | 482 | 1.46 |
Invalid/blank votes | 168 | – | |
Total | 33,247 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | |||
Source: Pina |
2015-16 legislative election
Party | First round | Second round | Total seats |
+/– | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
Pillars of Truth | 26 | +11 | ||||||
United Coalition Party | 19 | |||||||
Maurin Kiribati Party | ||||||||
Elected Speaker | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
Invalid/blank votes | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
Total | 19 | 25 | 46 | 0 | ||||
Registered voters/turnout | – | – | – | – | ||||
Source: IPU |
References
- Publications, USA International Business (2015-06-08). Kiribati Foreign Policy and Government Guide. Int'l Business Publications. ISBN 9781433027680.
- "CHAPTER XVIII PENAL MATTERS 12. United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime" (PDF).
- "REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI / COUNCIL OF STATE ACT 1980 No. 6 of 1980 / AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION IN RESPECT OF THE COUNCIL OF STATE". August 22, 1980.
- Paxton, J. (2016-12-15). The Statesman's Year-Book 1982-83. Springer. ISBN 9780230271111.
- Paxton, J. (2016-12-15). The Statesman's Year-Book 1984-85. Springer. ISBN 9780230271135.
- "REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI - International Committee of the Red Cross" (PDF). March 29, 1990.
- "REPUBLIC OF KIRIBATI (No. 5 of 1997): AN ACT TO AUTHORISE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION OF MONIES OUT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FUND FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FOR THE SERVICE OF THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 1997".
- "Kiribati legislation will enable government to close newspapers - IFEX". IFEX. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- "Commonwealth law ministers discuss climate change and cyber crime | Pacific Beat". www.radioaustralia.net.au. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- "Pacific Islands Law Officers' Network Annual Meeting Outcomes Report 11 – 12 November 2014, Kiribati" (PDF). 2014.
- "33rd PILON Annual Meeting (2014) Tarawa, Kiribati". 2014.
- "Mock session prepares Kiribati for report to UN Human Rights Council - Regional Rights Resource Team". Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- "Kiribati gets new justice minister". Radio New Zealand. 2016-09-29. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- "New Kiribati cabinet ministers sworn in". Radio New Zealand. 2016-03-16. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
- "Kiribati appoints first female Attorney-General". www.pressreader.com. September 30, 2016.
- "Our Services". People's Lawyer Kiribati. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Our Team". People's Lawyer Kiribati. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Supporting the new Family Protection Act in Solomon Islands". www.australianvolunteers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "AV Magazine Winter 2015". Issuu. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- Trease, Howard Van (1993). Atoll Politics: The Republic of Kiribati. editorips@usp.ac.fj. ISBN 9780958330008.
- "North stalwart steps up". NZ Herald. 2009-12-15. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Judges — Courts of New Zealand". www.courtsofnz.govt.nz. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- Powles, Guy; Pulea, Mere (1988). Pacific Courts and Legal Systems. editorips@usp.ac.fj. ISBN 9789820200432.
- Pacific Islands Monthly: PIM. Pacific Publications. 1987.
- Publications, USA International Business (2015-06-08). Kiribati Foreign Policy and Government Guide. Int'l Business Publications. ISBN 9781433027680.
- "Faculty of Law - Common Law Section | University of Ottawa". Faculty of Law - Common Law Section. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Island ethos | News | Law Society Gazette". Law Society Gazette. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Island Sands to City Crimes: Pacific Island Youth in Crisis". Juvenile Justice Information Exchange. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Profile on: Joelle Grover | University of London International Programmes". w01.uolia.wf.ulcc.ac.uk. 2013-07-04. Archived from the original on 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- Bank, World (2006-01-01). Doing Business 2007: How to Reform. World Bank Publications. ISBN 9780821364895.
- Bank, World (2006-01-01). Doing Business 2007: How to Reform. World Bank Publications. ISBN 9780821364895.
- "TA Law Firm - Kiribati - About Us". www.kiribatilegalservices.com.ki. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "UWA Law graduate wins Victoria's Young Lawyer of the Year Award". News | The University Of Western Australia. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- "Doing Business 2012". Issuu. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- Naylor, David (2011-10-18). October 2011: Needs Evaluation Survey for South Pacific Lawyer Associations - Final Report.
- "KIRIBATI COUNTRY REPORT 31 st MEETING OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS LAW OFFICERS' NETWORK 29 – 31st November 2012" (PDF). 2012.
- "KIRIBATI COUNTRY REPORT 32 nd MEETING OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS LAW OFFICERS' NETWORK5-6th November 2013" (PDF). 2013.
- "A word from…Talofa lava and welcome to this ninth issue of newSPLAsh" (PDF). South Pacific Lawyers Association. 9. 2014.
- Bank, World (2009-09-11). Doing Business 2010: Reforming through Difficult Times. World Bank Publications. ISBN 9780821379653.
- "Political parties" Archived 2010-06-12 at the Wayback Machine, House of Assembly of Kiribati
External links
- Politics of Kiribati as of 2007: a brief overview on the official website of the Commonwealth of Nations